“He Was Good”—Enzo Maresca Praises One Chelsea Star After Impressive Club World Cup Performance

Christopher Nkunku’s Chelsea journey hasn’t been the smoothest, but the Frenchman gave fans a reminder of his quality during a strong performance in the Blues’ 2-0 win over Fluminense in the semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup. Starting for the first time in the competition, Nkunku impressed with his movement, link-up play and attacking intent, earning praise from manager Enzo Maresca — and perhaps pushing his way into the frame for Sunday’s final.

“If Christo is playing, it’s because he deserves it,” Maresca said after the match. “Today, he was quite good. He had some chances where he could score, but overall he had a good game.”

Nkunku, 27, completed 83 minutes against the Brazilian side, operating mostly in a free attacking role just behind Joao Pedro. According to Opta stats, Nkunku registered 3 shots, 2 key passes, and maintained a passing accuracy of 89%, completing 26 out of 29 attempted passes. His off-the-ball movement also created space for Chelsea’s attackers, including Cole Palmer and Pedro, who ultimately delivered the goals to send Chelsea through to the final.

It’s been a frustrating few months for Nkunku, who signed for Chelsea from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023 for around £52 million. He suffered a serious knee injury during pre-season which kept him out until December, and has since made only a handful of appearances for the Blues. Prior to the Fluminense match, Nkunku had played just 261 minutes across all competitions for Chelsea since returning from injury, scoring once and assisting once.

But his latest display was a reminder of why Chelsea fought so hard to bring him to Stamford Bridge. At RB Leipzig, he scored 23 goals and provided 13 assists in his final full season in Germany, earning Bundesliga Player of the Year honours. His versatility — being able to play as a striker, second forward or attacking midfielder — makes him a valuable asset in Enzo Maresca’s tactical setup.

Chelsea’s boss has made it clear that players are chosen based on performance and attitude in training, and Nkunku’s selection reflects that philosophy.

“We try to give chances when they are deserved,” Maresca said. “It’s important to reward the players who are working well and doing the right things.”

Maresca’s comments suggest that Nkunku could now be in contention to feature in Sunday’s Club World Cup final, where Chelsea will face the winner of the other semi-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. With Liam Delap suspended and Nicolas Jackson still struggling for consistency, Nkunku could be handed another start.

Nkunku’s immediate focus will be on recovering in time for the final, but beyond the Club World Cup, his performance raises questions about what role he could play for Chelsea when the premier League season kicks off.

Nkunku’s performance against Fluminense is a timely reminder of the talent Chelsea have in their squad. His chemistry with Joao Pedro and Palmer — both of whom scored in the Fluminense match — could become a valuable attacking trio moving forward. If he can stay fit and continue building match sharpness, he could be one of the club’s most important players heading into the business end of the season.