‘Enzo Maresca hates Joao Felix’ – Chelsea fans explode at manager’s admission
Chelsea fans are furious with Enzo Maresca’s recent comments on Cole Palmer after sending Joao Felix out on loan to AC Milan in the January transfer window.
The 25-year-old has made a limited impact since joining the Blues from Atletico Madrid on a £46.3million deal in the summer, making just 20 appearances before being shipped out to Serie A.
He had only notched one goal and one assist in the Premier League this season before being thrown out the exit door by Maresca, though probably not unsurprisingly after his underwhelming loan period at Stamford Bridge.
It was a rather big surprise that Todd Boehly splashed the cash on the Portugal international, and the decision is clearly not one which has paid off, yet supporters are still calling his name back in London.
Enzo Maresca continues to pile pressure on Cole Palmer
Playing in a similar role to Cole Palmer, both Felix and Christopher Nkunku were expected to take some of the pressure off Chelsea’s biggest star.
However, with one of them sent out on loan until the end of the season and the other only making five league starts this season, that idea has not come to fruition at Stamford Bridge.
With form evaporating Maresca has now admitted that his team over-rely on Palmer for “everything” when he is just a “human being”. The England international has been an incredible addition to the squad since his move from Man City, and supporters are far from happy.
The manager has options at his disposal, but with the 22-year-old’s impact dropping drastically, the Blues are struggling for results with four losses in their last five games in all competitions.
Joao Felix could revive Chelsea career next season
Chelsea are now seventh in the Premier League table, one point behind fourth-place Man City, having once been touted to be in the title race with Liverpool and Arsenal.
Maresca has always suggested that this is not the season to be chasing the Premier League trophy, but many feel that was just a way to get the pressure off himself and the players.
With the manager making a new admission about Palmer’s struggles, a player who has already been tipped to leave Chelsea should there be no Champions League football season, there is nowhere for him to hide.
Fans have slammed Maresca for getting rid of Felix when they believe he was the answer to overworking Palmer, with multiple supporters suggesting that the Italian manager “hates” the Portuguese attacker.