“I don’t like that” – Maresca appears to take shot at departing Joao Felix | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has just taken his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Brighton in the FA Cup tomorrow, and as the first presser after the transfer window closed, there were of course some questions on that front.

The departure of Joao Felix on deadline day was perhaps the headline – a player Chelsea bought in the summer and handed a 7 year contract to, only to loan him out 6 months later. It’s a curious one, and looks to all the world like some pretty poor squad planning from those in charge.

As always, Maresca tried his best to smooth things over, but there was without doubt a ripple of tension, and it leaked out in one answer. Asked whether something had “happened” to trigger Felix’ departure, and if the attacker had come to see him about playing more, Maresca denied it all:

“Nothing happened. Players want to play all of the games but unfortunately they can’t all play,” he said.

“He never complained. He was professional.”

But then, unprompted, he leaked out a little more:

“I said many times, we need defensive balance and when you have so many attacking players, you can concede transitions and I don’t like that.”

Maresca leaks out a little frustration

Joao Felix celebrates a debut goal for AC Milan. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Is that a shot at Felix, who isn’t known for his defending? Or is it a shot at the sporting directors who built a squad with too many attacking players and not enough defensive midfield cover? Either way, the steely look in Maresca’s eye belied a little frustration without doubt.

In any case, it doesn’t sound like Felix did anything to force a move, and everyone still seems on good terms. It was just a foolish move to bring him here in the first place – who could possibly have predicted that, eh?