BREAKING NEWS: live from Stamford bridge, Chelsea legend tells club to bench Flop against Noah FC if the want to emerge victorious at home soil today. He said, “Starting him against Noah FC is an absolute joke! If Chelsea wants to win, he MUST be replaced—no question about it. His inconsistency has cost us before, and it WILL cost us again. He has no place in that lineup, not in a game this crucial.

Enzo Maresca has admitted he feels “shameful” for not being able to fit Chelsea’s expensive attacking talent, worth £135 million, into his lineup consistently. The Italian manager, who joined from Leicester, has had a promising start at Stamford Bridge, leading Chelsea to fourth place in the Premier League after five wins in their first ten matches.

In addition to a strong league position, Maresca has guided Chelsea to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and maintained an unbeaten record in their Europa Conference League campaign. However, he faces a challenge in integrating all of Chelsea’s high-profile attacking players together.

Joao Felix, who returned on a permanent deal, has only appeared in five league matches, while Christopher Nkunku has just one league start. Speaking before Chelsea’s upcoming match against Noah, Maresca commented, “I feel a shame for Joao and would love to give him more minutes, but we need defensive balance and can’t play Joao, Cole [Palmer], and Christo [Nkunku] all together. I’d like them all on the pitch, but balance is key. Joao’s chance will come if he keeps working hard.”

Nkunku was expected to be a central figure this season after his big-money move from RB Leipzig, despite being plagued by injuries last term. While he’s scored eight goals so far, most of those have come in cup matches rather than the league. Maresca added, “Christo performs well every time he plays and was likely our best player in pre-season. He played then as an attacking midfielder, but we’re now using him as a nine, though he’s more suited to a second striker role.”

Maresca emphasized his ongoing efforts to find balance for all the team’s attackers, including Mykhailo Mudryk, noting that each of them “deserves more chances in the Premier League.” However, he also highlighted the need for versatility and adaptation as not every player can be in their ideal position.

Maresca may adjust the lineup for Thursday’s match against Noah, with Chelsea then set to face Arsenal at Stamford Bridge over the weekend.

Enzo Maresca’s early tenure at Chelsea has shown promising results with a solid league position and progress in domestic and European competitions, but it’s also been marked by the challenge of finding the right balance in his attacking lineup. While Maresca’s tactical setup has brought Chelsea to fourth in the Premier League, he’s openly expressed his struggle to fully utilize the club’s high-profile forwards like Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku, and Mykhailo Mudryk, worth a combined £135 million.

Joao Felix’s limited appearances in the league highlight this dilemma. Although he returned to Stamford Bridge with high expectations, he’s often been left on the bench as Maresca prioritizes defensive stability. Nkunku, too, faces challenges fitting into the current system; although he has shone in cup competitions, his talents haven’t translated as easily into league play. Initially viewed as a key signing from RB Leipzig, Nkunku is being used as a central striker rather than his preferred secondary striker or attacking midfielder role.

Maresca has also emphasized Mudryk’s need for more league opportunities, balancing his own intentions to field an attacking lineup with his necessity to maintain defensive solidity. The upcoming match against Noah in the Europa Conference League and the highly anticipated clash with Arsenal may see Maresca experiment with his lineup. His success will likely depend on how well he can maintain this balance, ensuring each player finds their role without compromising the team’s overall structure.