Joe Cole pinpoints Chelsea headache that could force Enzo Maresca U-turn

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has decisions to marque implicit his starting line-up against Arsenal connected Sunday aft the Blues demolished FC Noah successful the Conference League

Former Chelsea prima Joe Cole believes Joao Felix has fixed Blues brag Enzo Maresca a headache with his show successful the UEFA Conference League connected Thursday.

The summertime signing scored doubly earlier half-time arsenic Maresca's much-changed squad put 8 goals past Armenian opponents FC Noah. The Blues present beryllium atop the array astatine the halfway constituent successful the league phase, with maximum points and a +13 extremity difference.

Those 2 goals brought him up to 5 successful 10 games this season, much than helium managed successful 20 outings during his archetypal Blues spell successful the 2022-23 season. The Portugal planetary rejoined successful a imperishable woody implicit the summer, and has scored 4 times successful Europe to spell on with 1 league extremity successful the 6-2 triumph distant astatine Wolves successful August.

Despite thriving successful Europe, Joao Felix has managed conscionable 117 minutes nether Maresca successful the Premier League. However, Cole - who spent 7 years with the Blues aft joining nether Claudio Ranieri successful 2003 - tin spot that changing sooner alternatively than later.

"I thought helium was brilliant, helium applied himself," TNT Sports pundit cole said of the erstwhile Atletico Madrid man. "You person to retrieve with Joao, helium was a £100 cardinal subordinate astatine immoderate point, his vocation has evidently gone here, determination and everyplace but he’s very, precise talented, helium wants to marque Chelsea his home.

"When helium archetypal came to the nine I was blown distant by however bully his question was. This is what helium needs to instrumentality his crippled to the adjacent level, finishing with that benignant of composure."

Cole suggested the 24-year-old could go a 20-goal subordinate if everything starts to click. "He could beryllium forgiven for feeling atrocious for himself due to the fact that helium should beryllium a starter with his quality. He’s fixed the manager a headache," helium added.

Should Joao Felix beryllium playing much for Chelsea successful the league? Have your accidental successful the comments section

Chelsea person conscionable 1 much crippled to spell earlier the planetary break, a Premier League clash with Arsenal connected Sunday. Joao Felix was an unused substitute for each of his team's past 3 league outings, but an wounded scare for Cole Palmer - coupled with the two-goal show against Noah - could springiness him an opening.

"He didn't bid the past 2 days. We volition see," Maresca said of Palmer up of the Noah game. "Hopefully helium tin beryllium fit. The tackle, I deliberation it's rather clear, was not a mean one. Hopefully helium tin beryllium back."

Joao Felix wasn't the lone subordinate to impressment connected Thursday. Marc Guiu scored his archetypal Chelsea extremity since his summertime determination from Barcelona and Christopher Nkunku scored 2 goals of his own, with the others coming from Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi and Mykhailo Mudryk.

"It’s casual to slumber oregon autumn down successful this benignant of game," Maresca said aft the win. "Football is afloat of surprises. What I asked them earlier the crippled was to amusement however superior we are, however professional, and they showed that."

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