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Triple Chelsea decision sees Enzo Maresca make feelings perfectly clear as £20m mistake exposed

Chelsea boss Enzo Marseca
-Credit: (Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images))


Chelsea picked up a needed three points this past weekend with a narrow 1-0 win over Bournemouth. Prior to the September international break, the Blues drew against Crystal Palace but were able to get straight back to winning ways with Christopher Nkunku grabbing a late goal at the Vitality Stadium.

Enzo Maresca was forced into two changes for the clash against the Cherries with Enzo Fernandez late back from international duty and Malo Gusto suffering a fresh injury. Given the other absences at right back and in central midfield, the Blues boss was forced into playing both Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga out of position.

Despite that, the visitors were able to repel Bournemouth's in-form attack, with Robert Sanchez saving a penalty, before Nkunku struck the winner off the bench four minutes from time. Fellow substitute Jadon Sancho, on his debut, also played a part in the victory as he grabbed the assist after replacing Pedro Neto at half time.

Understandably, Maresca was a huge fan of his performance on the south coast. "I think we start second half much better and Jadon helped us a lot but what he did tonight is exactly what we expected from him," he said. "As I said, I know Jadon very good because I watched him many, many times in the past and I know what he can give us.

"The performance second half changed completely but we need to learn this kind of things if we want to build something important and we want to win games first of all we need the desire to win games, win duels and to fight together."

One player unlikely to be making a similar type of impact is Carney Chukwuemeka despite his clear potential following his £20million move from Aston Villa. The 20-year-old is yet to feature for Chelsea this season with Maresca's latest verdict and brutal decision showing that looks set to remain the case.

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"I said already to him personally, and to you in the press conference: I really, really like Carney. The problem is that we have so many attacking midfielders that he is going to struggle to find space," he admitted in a press conference on Friday.

“Because of his past, in terms of injuries, the best thing to do was to go and prove himself that he is fit and can play 30 or 35 games and then come back here. Unfortunately we didn't find any solutions and now he is one of the players in our squad and we can use him."

Days later, despite Romeo Lavia, Fernandez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all being out of Chelsea's squad, Chukwuemeka was still absent. Based on that, with three midfielders missing, that further showcases the opportunities for Chukwuemeka will be limited.

The Conference League does present a somewhat of a final chance for Chukwuemeka especially with Maresca's change in stance regarding Ben Chilwell showing there is a route back into his thoughts.