Enzo Maresca hints he may be about to start ‘intelligent’ player alongside Cole Palmer for Chelsea

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been brave with some of his team selections during his debut season at the club, and he’s just dropped an interesting hint about what he could do in the future.

It’s been refreshing for everyone to see the way that Enzo Maresca has stamped his authority so quickly as the Chelsea manager.

In terms of Maresca’s style of play, there’s no doubt that the Blues are becoming a possession-based side that build out from the back. They also attack with real pace and directness in the right moments, too.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is impressed with Chelsea tactically under Maresca, which is a credit to how quickly he’s influenced things as a head coach.

• READ MORE: Paul Scholes admits he got it wrong about Enzo Maresca at Chelsea

Enzo Maresca hints at starting Cole Palmer and Joao Felix together for Chelsea

Maresca has made an interesting comment today about Chelsea duo Cole Palmer and Joao Felix.

Palmer and Felix, who are both competing for the number 10 position this season, haven’t started a single game yet together. However, it’s now been suggested that they soon could feature in the same XI.

Maresca said in Friday’s press conference via Chelsea’s official YouTube account: “This [lack of physicality in midfield] doesn’t mean that we can’t play with Joao [Felix] and Cole [Palmer] in the pocket, it depends on the game. Probably soon, we are going to see Joao and Cole playing together in the pocket. It’s always the game that requires a little bit different plan.”

Maresca has to find a way to try start Felix more for Chelsea, and it sounds like he’s been thinking of a potential system to accommodate both him and Palmer.

Comparing Cole Palmer and Joao Felix

There’s going to be so much technical skill on the pitch if Maresca can fit Felix into Chelsea’s best line-up alongside talisman Palmer.

Paul Merson has described Chelsea attacker Felix as an “intelligent” player, so he’s someone you want on the football pitch. However, he’s yet to start a Premier League game this season and is only starting matches in the cups.

Of course, Palmer is head and shoulders above Felix right now as a creative playmaker in the number 10 hole. However, it would be fascinating to see the two clever footballers linking up together.