Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca has expressed confidence that Joao Felix will learn from his challenging first spell at Chelsea, as the Portuguese forward may feature in Sunday’s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Felix, now 24, recently returned to Chelsea on a permanent transfer from Atletico Madrid, following a brief six-month loan during the 2022-23 season.
Felix’s initial stint at Chelsea was marked by inconsistency. Despite showing glimpses of his potential, such as during Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, his time was marred by difficulties. One significant setback occurred during his debut, when Felix received a red card against Fulham, leading to a three-game suspension.
Maresca, who is reportedly keen on helping Felix adapt more smoothly this time around, believes the forward has the maturity to improve. “He’s mature enough to understand what he has to do and to learn from his mistakes,” Maresca said. The coach remains optimistic about Felix’s ability to play a key role for Chelsea moving forward.
Though Felix still needs time to fully understand the team’s playing style, Maresca believes the forward is physically ready to contribute. “He’s a nine, he can drop and give us an extra man. He can play as an attacking midfielder… He’s a player that is going to help us,” Maresca added.
