Enzo Maresca has insisted Joao Felix is physically ready to make his second Chelsea debut on Sunday against Wolves.
The Blues go to Molineux this weekend for their second Premier League game of the 2024/25 season after opening their campaign with a defeat to Manchester City on Sunday. Felix, who was signed on Wednesday, has a chance to make his second debut for the club, although he still needs time to understand the way of thinking under Maresca.
“If he is available, then for sure he can have a chance to play,” the Chelsea head coach said on his latest signing. “In terms of knowing the way we want to play, probably not yet [ready].
“In terms of physicality, I think he is ready because he was already playing games there [at Atletico Madrid]. He needs more time to understand the way we want to play but overall I think he can play.”
Felix has penned a permanent deal at Stamford Bridge after wanting to come back to the club for a second spell. The 24-year-old attacker spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan with the Blues but has now joined on a permanent basis from Atletico Madrid, with Conor Gallagher going in the opposite direction.
On his first debut for Chelsea, Felix was shown a red card on 57 minutes for a reckless challenge on Kenny Tete. Maresca has no concerns that the Portugal international will repeat that should he feature against Wolves on Sunday.
“I think he is mature enough to understand what he has to do and hopefully he has learned from his mistake in the past and he can do better,” Maresca explained. “Overall, I think he is a player that is going to help us.”
Felix was in attendance for Chelsea’s Conference League play-off first-leg win against Servette on Thursday evening and the club’s latest signing was re-introduced to the Stamford Bridge faithful pre-match. Goals in the second-half from Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke ensured the Blues will go into next week’s second-leg in Geneva with a two-goal advantage.
There were full debuts for six players on Thursday night, including goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen. The 22-year-old shot-stopper moved to Chelsea from Villarreal for around £20million at the end of July and was impressive on his debut for the west Londoners.
However, there is little chance of seeing him again on Sunday with Maresca confirming his current plan is to use Jorgensen in European and cup fixtures, while Robert Sanchez will be the man between the posts in the Premier League. Sanchez played against Manchester City at the weekend but the Spaniard was strongly criticised on social media for his display.
“This is in this moment the plan but the plan can change,” Maresca replied when asked by football.london about the goalkeeper situation. “I’ve said many times, I judge the players about the level [they are playing at]. So if the level continues to be the same then probably Robert will be Premier League and Filip in the Conference League or the cup that we have. But in the end, it is just about performance.”
