Chelsea’s ongoing football season has been a whirlwind of highs and lows. After a disappointing previous campaign, the club is now experiencing a resurgence under new manager Enzo Maresca. Their recent 4-2 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion is a testament to their newfound form, with players like Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, and Jadon Sancho leading the charge.
However, Maresca’s quest to build an impeccable squad has come with some tough decisions. The Italian manager has let go of several key players, including Raheem Sterling and Conor Gallagher, signalling a shift in the club’s direction. Many others have also been told they are no longer in the club’s future plans and should seek opportunities elsewhere.
Amid this shake-up, Maresca recently opened up about a notable midfielder who, despite being named in the squad, is no longer part of his long-term plans. The player, unable to secure a move in the recently closed summer transfer window, now finds himself in limbo as Chelsea move forward without him.
Maresca on Carney Chukwuemeka
Speaking to reporters (h/t Goal), after their cinematic Palmer-powered win against the Seagulls, Maresca opened up on the prospects of their midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka. The coach clearly stated that though the 20-year-old is undeniably a good player, he can not be consolidated into the Chelsea squad given the high volume of players that they already have.
“I will say exactly the same thing I have said many times: Carney is a very good player, but for the amount of players we have, we decided at the beginning of the season it is probably better to leave and go somewhere, prove himself and playing 30 or 35 games than being here and play less games. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. He is our player. He had some minutes the other day, today he was not involved. Hopefully, we can give him more minutes.”
Carney Chukwuemeka has made just one appearance for Chelsea this season, which came in their EFL Cup clash against second-division side Barrow. During the summer transfer window, the midfielder was linked with moves to Barcelona and AC Milan, but for reasons unknown, neither deal materialized.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that Chukwuemeka has no future at Stamford Bridge under Enzo Maresca. For the sake of his development, it would be wise for him to seek a new destination where he can secure regular playing time and unlock his potential. A move away from Chelsea could give him the opportunity to flourish as a player, something that seems unlikely in his current situation.
