Joao Felix has revealed where he believes he performs best on the pitcgh in what could be viewed as a message to Enzo Maresca.
Felix joined the Blues in the summer from Atletico Madrid in a deal worth £44.5m, having previously had a loan spell at the club in the 2022/2023 season.
The 25-year-old has struggled for game time in the Premier League and has been an unused substitute in the last four league matches.
Felix reveals where he plays best
The Portugal international has scored one Premier League goal, but has faired better in the Conference League where he’s found the back of the net on four occasions.
Felix would have expected to play more than he has, and Maresca recently admitted he felt shame over the attacker’s lack of game time.
He scored for Portugal on Monday night with a well taken goal and revealed after the game what he felt his best position was.
“I think where I can perform best is in the central area of the pitch, something I haven’t played in the last four years,” he told Sport TV as quoted by Metro.
“Whether as a false nine, a number ten, a second striker, I think that’s where I can help the team the most, where I can contribute the most to the game and I think you could see that in the first half.”
The problem Felix has is that if Cole Palmer’s fit he won’t play centrally, whilst Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku are ahead of him to lead the line.
It will be interesting to see how Maresca rotates the squad with the fixtures coming thick and fast in the build-up to Christmas and it would be a surprise if Felix didn’t feature more regularly and start his first league game of the season.
That opportunity could come away at Leicester on Saturday as the Blues look to record a much needed three points having won just one of their last five league games.