Some Chelsea staff members feel £46.3m player might be unhappy with Enzo Maresca set to speak to him

Enzo Maresca has the flexibility to deploy a completely different starting lineup in UEFA Conference League matches, deliberately leaving players like Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, and Cole Palmer out of the European squad. This strategy is aimed at providing opportunities for other squad members and managing the physical demands on these key players.

Few teams across Europe can afford such depth, but this advantage comes with a potential drawback: some players may grow frustrated with limited playing time due to the fierce competition within the squad.

One player feeling the impact of this competition is Joao Felix, who has struggled for regular starts under Maresca this season. Reports suggest that Chelsea plans to discuss the situation with the Portuguese forward to understand his perspective, as there are concerns about his satisfaction with his current role.

According to a report from Give Me Sport, there is a growing belief within Stamford Bridge that Joao Felix, who wears the No.14 jersey, is unhappy with his limited involvement. Despite Chelsea securing his services for £46.3 million from Atletico Madrid in August, Felix has only been included in the starting XI for two of Chelsea’s 17 Premier League games so far this season.

In addition to these league appearances, the Viseu-born forward has made two starts in the UEFA Conference League and two more in the Carabao Cup, but his lack of consistent game time appears to be a point of concern for both the player and the club.