EPL: Maresca has no place for him – Jason Cundy sympathies with Chelsea star

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EPL: Maresca has no place for him – Jason Cundy sympathies with Chelsea star

Former Chelsea defender, Jason Cundy has insisted that manager Enzo Maresca has no place for forward Christopher Nkunku in his team.

Cundy said he feel sorry for Nkunku, urging the 27-year-old to consider his future at Stamford Bridge.

Nkunku has continue to struggle for minutes in Maresca’s team so far this season.

He joined Chelsea in 2023 from RB Leipzig, who he scored over 58 goals.

But an injury-affected first season saw the Nkunku make just 14 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea last season.

This season, the France international has so far found it hard to break into Maresca’s first team.

Nkunku has started just three Premier League games for the Blues as Nicolas Jackson is ahead of him in Maresca’s choice of attackers.

“What is Nkunku? What is his best position? Who is this player?” Cundy told talkSPORT.

“He’s a ten for me, he can play out on the left and be a body for 15 to 20 minutes at the end of games.

“But he isn’t a number nine and he and [Nicolas] Jackon are two totally different strikers and so Chelsea have two totally different attacks and two totally different set-ups with the wide men and Palmer.

“I feel for Nkunku because he’s caught between two positions. He’s not a number nine and he can’t play ten so where is his best role?

“The whole role of number nine has been left down to Jackson this season and Nkunku doesn’t do that job when he’s given the chance.

“I think he will probably have to think about his future at the club because there is no role for him in this system and Maresca has no place for him. He’s using him because he feels like he has to.”