Following Chelsea’s impressive 5-0 victory over Barrow in the Carabao Cup, manager Enzo Maresca praised the standout performances of hat-trick hero Christopher Nkunku and two other players, indicating they “deserve to start” more frequently for the team.
Nkunku’s remarkable performance included three goals, with the French striker scoring twice within the first 15 minutes. Chelsea’s third goal came from a deflected free-kick by Joao Felix that caught Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman off guard. Pedro Neto then added his first goal for Chelsea after halftime, before Nkunku completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute, capping a dominant display by the Blues.
In the post-match press conference, Maresca expressed his delight not only for Nkunku but also for Neto and Felix, highlighting their readiness to step up in upcoming Premier League matches.
“I’m happy. Happy for Pedro [Neto], happy for Christo [Nkunku] and for Joao [Felix], for all of them,” Maresca stated. “They all deserve to play from the start in the Premier League but they are not playing at this moment. The way they take the chances when we give them minutes is fantastic. No matter if it’s five minutes, 45 minutes, or 90 minutes, they are all ready, and this is the most important thing.”
With this strong performance, Nkunku, Neto, and Felix have certainly put their names in contention for more starting opportunities as Chelsea prepares for their upcoming fixtures.
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