November 22nd 2024.
Enzo Maresca's decision to not include Christopher Nkunku in the Premier League lineup has sparked some concerns. Despite being the top scorer for Chelsea this season, Nkunku is not satisfied with his limited game time and is considering a possible departure next year. The 27-year-old has impressively scored 10 goals in just 17 appearances so far, but most of these goals have come in the Europa Conference League rather than the Premier League.
To add to Nkunku's frustration, he has only started one Premier League game and scored one goal, with the remaining goals coming in the Carabao Cup and Conference League. He had high hopes for this season after starting on the opening day against Manchester City, but has since been relegated to the bench with only nine substitute appearances. Understandably, this has left him feeling unhappy, as reported by The Athletic.
However, it's not a drastic level of unhappiness and Nkunku has not expressed his concerns to the Chelsea management or submitted a transfer request. But if his situation remains unchanged, things could escalate and he may push for a transfer in the summer window next year. As we've seen, Nkunku's unique balloon celebration has been a familiar sight on the pitch this season.
The competition for a spot in Chelsea's forward line is fierce, with Nicolas Jackson being the first choice and several other players vying for a spot behind him. At the moment, Maresca seems to favor Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, and Noni Madueke. However, there are also players like Jadon Sancho, Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the squad, all hoping for more game time.
Nkunku, on the other hand, is determined to prove himself and earn a spot in Maresca's Premier League plans. This is his second season with Chelsea, but he considers it as his first since he was sidelined with an injury for most of his debut year. In fact, he openly admitted that he's treating this season as his first, saying, "I don't have the feeling I had a first season here. It was very difficult." He also expressed his hunger and determination to play and be confident in his abilities, which he believes will allow him to showcase his true potential.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
