Enzo Maresca's comments come back to haunt him as Chelsea star struggles in Brighton loss

Enzo Maresca said helium had nary regrets astir Chelsea's deficiency of transportation enactment past period contempt losing forwards Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu to injury, joining a increasing database of unavailable players

Enzo Maresca's comments backing Christopher Nkunku person backfired aft the Frenchman's mediocre show successful Chelsea's 2-1 decision to Brighton successful the FA Cup.

The Blues were dumped retired of the FA Cup successful the 4th circular by the Seagulls, who came from down aft Bart Verbruggen's aboriginal ain extremity done Joel Veltman and Georginio Rutter.

Maresca said helium had nary regrets astir Chelsea's deficiency of transportation enactment past period contempt losing forwards Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu to injury, portion Joao Felix was loaned retired to AC Milan.

The Italian said Nkunku - who was linked with a determination distant successful January - would play much games successful the lack of Jackson and promised Chelsea would find "a antithetic solution" up front.

But the erstwhile Red Bull Leipzig prima was anonymous astatine the Amex, failing to registry a changeable and lone had 1 interaction successful the Brighton punishment area.

Nkunku's tepid show was thing of a humiliation for Maresca aft helium gave him his backing contempt Chelsea's situation up front.

When asked astir Chelsea's nonaccomplishment to bring successful a caller guardant successful January, helium replied: "I said aft the West Ham crippled that the things that we planned successful presumption of players that had the tendency to permission and the players that we need.

"In the end, I deliberation we did each of the things we needed. Before the past game, we had 2 strikers, Nico and Marc. Sometimes we accommodate besides Christo [Nkunku] there, but successful lawsuit some of them are out, we are going to find a antithetic solution."

Jackson's hamstring wounded is not thought to beryllium superior and could instrumentality for their adjacent Premier League crippled - ironically different travel to Brighton connected Friday nighttime - which could spot Nkunku instantly instrumentality to the bench.

Nkunku was linked with a determination to Manchester United past period but present could beryllium acceptable for much vexation connected the bench, having lone made 3 starts successful the Premier League nether Maresca. Jackson, meanwhile, has started each but 2 of Chelsea's league games, scoring 9 goals and assisting five.

Brutally for Nkunku, Maresca said aft the crippled that Chelsea missed the beingness of Jackson. He said: "Sometimes I deliberation you request to play immoderate games without players to realise however important they are. Off the ball, his pressing is ever precise bully and connected the shot helium is simply a menace always."

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