November 7th 2024.
Despite being a highly anticipated signing for Chelsea, Joao Felix has yet to make a start in the Premier League this season. However, his performance in their recent Conference League game against Noah has caught the attention of Joe Cole. The former Chelsea player believes Felix has given manager Enzo Maresca a headache with his impressive display on Thursday evening.
The game against Noah saw Chelsea take an early lead, with Felix scoring two goals in the first half. The team continued their domination in the second half, with goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Axel Disasi, and Mykhailo Mudryk. Christopher Nkunku completed the scoring with two goals, securing an 8-0 win for Chelsea and keeping them on top of the Conference League table.
Despite his lack of appearances in the Premier League, Cole believes Felix has made a strong case for himself to start in their upcoming match against Arsenal. "I thought he was brilliant, he applied himself," Cole shared on TNT Sports. "You have to remember with Joao, he was a £100 million player at some point, his career has obviously gone here, there and everywhere but he's very, very talented, he wants to make Chelsea his home."
Cole was particularly impressed with Felix's movement on the pitch, something that caught his eye when the Portuguese player first joined the club. "When he first came to the club I was blown away by how good his movement was," Cole recalled. "This is what he needs to take his game to the next level, finishing with that kind of composure. Once he can bring this to his game he can be a 20, 25-goal a season man."
The former Chelsea player also praised Felix's all-around abilities, noting that he can provide assists, is great on the half turn, and always stays busy on the pitch. "He could be forgiven for feeling sorry for himself because he should be a starter with his quality," Cole added. "He's given the manager a headache."
With a deep and talented squad, it's no surprise that Chelsea's starting lineup is constantly changing. However, Cole believes that players like Felix need to consistently perform at their best to secure their spot in the team. "When you go to a big club now it's going to be stacked with top, top players and you have to perform to your level and more, week in, week out, to play," Cole explained. "And when you don't, you find yourself out of the side. But it seems like he's showing a great attitude and that can only be good for the group."
It remains to be seen if Felix will get the chance to start in Chelsea's next Premier League match against Arsenal. But one thing is for sure, with his impressive performance against Noah, he has definitely given the manager something to think about. Keep up with the latest Chelsea news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up for updates.
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