Very little used by his coach in recent matches, Portuguese international João Félix is currently experiencing a difficult phase in his career.
João Félix is less and less present on the pitch. This Thursday evening, the Portuguese international once again spent the entire match between the Blues from Chelsea to Fulham, sitting on the substitutes' bench. A recurring image since the start of the season, and the transfer of the 24-year-old player to the London club.
Less and less playing time
It was a strange month of December that João Félix experienced in the ranks of Chelsea. Since the 4th of the month and the Blues' big victory against the bottom of the championship, Southampton, during which he played the entire match (1-5), the Portuguese has gone off the radar. Appearing at the very end of the match against Tottenham four days later, the former Atlético de Madrid player has since not played a single minute in the league.
And if since the start of the season, the Golden Boy 2019 could count on the Conference League to play more matches, João Félix also had to be patient during Chelsea's last European outings. On December 12, against Astana (1-3), the Portuguese had to withdraw due to an injury, before starting the following match, against Shamrock Rovers, on the substitutes' bench (3-0). That evening, João Félix was able to spend half an hour on the pitch at Stamford Bridge. A godsend, in the middle of a very long period of scarcity.
Where has Portuguese international João Félix gone?
So here are two consecutive matches that João Félix was not asked by his coach to come into play. A playing time which is starting to raise questions, while the international press increasingly mentions the rumor of a loan to abroad, for the next winter transfer window.
This Thursday, Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca spoke about the situation of the Portuguese player. This could be explained above all by the competition it faces. Indeed, João Félix evolves in the same register as a certain Cole Palmer, who asserts himself week after week as one of the very best players in the Premier League. Scorer this Thursday against Fulham, the England international has no less than 12 goals and 6 assists in the league this season, which makes him one of the most important elements of the Chelsea team.
“João Félix plays more or less in the same position as Cole Palmer”Enzo Maresca first declared before adding: “They have already played together, but it is also a question of collective balance. That's why he didn't come into play today. » At the heart of a particularly busy end of the year, as is tradition in the elite of English football, Chelsea will travel to Ipswich this Monday evening, for the nineteenth day of the championship. Anxious to rest certain executives, the Blues coach will perhaps take advantage of this match against a poorly ranked opponent to give playing time to his number 14.
Crédit photo : George Wood/Getty Images
Alexandre Ribeiro launched the Trivela.fr site in 2019 and today runs it alongside his colleagues. Passionate about Portuguese football as a whole, and in particular the Portuguese national team, it is with all his energy and involvement that he brings this media to life on a daily basis.
