“Soon” – Enzo Maresca on when he could unleash tactical change that see Joao Felix in first team | OneFootball

The signing of Joao Felix made little sense to us because Chelsea already had a host of players who play in his position, and so far it’s turned out to be as pointless as we feared. He’s not made a single league start thus far, as we approach mid-November.

Felix is getting games only with the B team, a waste of his talent and a waste of the money we paid for him. But this week in his press conference, Enzo Maresca hinted that he was soon going to try something new which would allow Felix a chance to play with the A team:

“It depends on the game. Probably soon we are going to see Joao and Cole [Palmer] together in the pocket with a striker,” Maresca claimed in his presser yesterday.

We’re not sure what type of tactical challenge would precipitate him switching so dramatically to a new shape, but we’re curious to see it in action. So far Felix has barely even had chances off the bench in league games, so it would represent quite the turnaround.

Joao Felix in the tunnel at Anfield. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)

Switch could benefit more than just Felix and Palmer

It’s also not just a question of how Palmer and Felix might work as a pair behind the striker, it’s also a question of moving away from the current solution. Recent weeks have had Maresca experimenting with Reece James at right back, with Malo Gusto switched to left back and then playing in the “pocket” when the team are in possession.

That just doesn’t get the best out of Gusto, and so this tweak in shape could yet benefit both the Frenchman and Felix, who is gasping for a first team shot.

As for Christopher Nkunku and his chances of starting more important games, we’re not sure where this leaves him.