Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca sends brutal parting shot to Joao Felix after the Blues’ £46m outcast escaped on mortgage to AC Milan

Enzo Maresca has insisted Chelsea don’t miss Joao Felix in a parting shot to the ahead following his mortgage transfer to AC Milan, regardless of struggling a fourth spherical FA Cup exit. 

Felix rejoined the Blues final summer season from Atletico Madrid for £46million following a short mortgage stint in 2023. 

The Portugal worldwide principally performed within the Convention and began simply three Premier League matches, with seven objectives in 20 appearances throughout all competitions. 

Felix joined Milan on mortgage for the rest of the season on deadline day of the January switch window and scored on his debut because the Italian giants beat Roma 3-1 within the Coppa Italia. 

He additionally began in Saturday’s win over Empoli, whereas Chelsea had been knocked out of the FA Cup within the fourth spherical after a 2-1 defeat by Brighton. 

Regardless of the Blues early exit within the competitors, Maresca insisted it was the precise choice to let Felix depart. 

Enzo Maresca insists Chelsea do not miss the ahead regardless of their defeat by Brighton

He mentioned: ‘I do not assume we miss Joao. Joao is blissful there and we’re blissful Joao is blissful there. We had two striker accidents on deadline day, it’s one thing tough to assume. Nico [Jackson] could be again very quickly.  

‘Typically I believe it’s worthwhile to play some video games with out gamers to understand how essential they’re. Off the ball, his [Jackson] urgent is all the time excellent and on the ball he’s a menace all the time.’

The defeat on the Amex means Chelsea are actually out of each home cup competitions and the Italian needs his aspect to present their all within the Premier League and Convention League. 

‘We began excellent, managed and created some possibilities. The second-half kind of occurred the identical. If there’s something good after a defeat is now we could be targeted on the Premier League and Convention,’ Maresca added.

‘It’s for positive a disgrace. Little doubt. It’s a tough competitors. For positive, it’s a large disgrace for us. For me, a superb season is seeing the staff bettering recreation after recreation; undergo unhealthy moments, issue, it’s the solely means this membership can compete for one thing essential. 

‘After we concede the second objective, we had three or 4 possibilities to attain so the response was there. Each recreation is totally different. When it comes to response, after the second objective we concede, the response was there.

‘For me, for positive, we have to discover ways to win video games 1-0. Little doubt. The identical means, the final recreation in opposition to West Ham, we had been dropping 1-0 after which we received 2-1. When it comes to the staff, we have to discover ways to win 1-0. Massive golf equipment do this.’