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Joao Felix sends Enzo Maresca perfect message as Chelsea handed major Cole Palmer dilemma

Joao Felix of Portugal speaks to the media following the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A1 match between Croatia and Portugal at  on November 18, 2024
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)


Joao Felix has sent Enzo Maresca the perfect message ahead of Chelsea's clash against Leicester City. Chelsea travel to the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon as both sides look to climb the Premier League table.

Before the international break, Chelsea salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw against Arsenal, meanwhile, Leicester City suffered a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United. While the west Londoners have climbed to third in the English top flight, they've won just six points from their last five games.

Not much separates Chelsea from Tottenham Hotspur in 10th, so Maresca will be determined to establish a buffer in the race for Champions League qualification. Nevertheless, Felix has laid down a marker ahead of the festive period.

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On Monday night, the 25-year-old forward netted in Portugal's 1-1 draw with Croatia. Felix put his country ahead in the first half with a brilliant finish, firing the ball beneath Dominik Livaković.

Vitinha clipped a delightfully weighted pass in-behind the Croatia backline to find the Chelsea ace. Playing in a front-two, he created separation from his marker and darted into the space before latching onto the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder's pass.

After taking a couple of touches to compose himself, Felix etched his name onto the scoresheet for Portugal. After the game, he marked the Nations League clash with a post on Instagram, which quickly eclipsed a quarter of a million likes.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Roberto Martinez heaped praise on Felix for his bold display. As quoted by Goal, the Portugal boss said: "I really enjoyed the training camp, it's not easy to use a lot of players and maintain the same level. We saw Portugal in the second half against Poland and the first half today. Players like João Félix and José Sá also showed why they are important."

Despite having made just five appearances for Chelsea in the Premier League this season – all of which have been off the bench – Felix will be hoping that he's done enough to finally warrant a start at the weekend. That said, assuming Nicolas Jackson is to still lead the frontline, one of Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto or Noni Madueke would have to make way.

The Blues boss has a difficult decision or two to make while on the coach up to the King Power Stadium...