“You are not going to play” - Maresca warned new Chelsea signings Sancho and Felix

Ahead of Chelsea's clash against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, Enzo Maresca was asked about the club's latest signings in the transfer window - Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix - as the players look to make their first feature in the Premier League this season.

Jadon Sancho arrived to Stamford Bridge on deadline day after completing a surprise loan move with an obligation to buy. The Englishman will, therefore, join the club permanently at the end of the 2024/2025 season, putting an end to his Manchester United nightmare. On the other hand, Joao Felix's return - after spending six months on loan at the club during the 2022/23 season - cost Chelsea £46.3m. The deal was agreed with Atletico Madrid to acquire the Portuguese on a permanent basis. 

The two strikers are similar in many ways, in that both have seen their careers flourish in their times as wonder-kids but, despite their proven talent, have quickly gone off track. The Red Devils brought Sancho in 2021 for £73million, though he only managed to provide 18G/A in 83 appearances. Meanwhile Felix counts 16G/A in 44 games for Barcelona last season, which, despite being better than Sancho's tally, remains relatively poor for a player of his caliber. 

Failure to meet expectations, alongside speculation regarding their lack of drive and determination, meant that the Chelsea boss had to set his rules clears for the two players aiming to reignite their careers with the Blues. “Before they joined the club, I had a chat with them, and one of my messages to them was ‘if you come here and don’t work properly then you are not going to play'. Before they arrived, the message for them was clear. For Jadon. For Joao. But [I told them] the reason why I’m speaking to you is because I really like you. If you come here in the way that we want, we are happy. But if you come here and don’t work hard, it’s better if you don’t come," the Italian manager revealed in the press conference. 

And Maresca's words suggest that the message got through the former United player, as he added: "I don’t have any idea about what happened with Erik. I can just judge the player in the weeks he has been with us and he has been perfect. I don’t consider Jadon a risk because I consider Jadon as a player who can help us. With the way we play he is that kind of player to help us a lot, especially in the last third when we arrive there so many times and need more quality, more patience, more accuracy. I love Jadon, I love the players we have. The reason Jadon is here is because I love him, otherwise he would not be here". 

 

September 14, 2024