Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has admitted he may have been “unfair” to Christopher Nkunku following the forward’s lack of playing time this season.
Nkunku, who joined Chelsea in a £52m deal from RB Leipzig last summer, was linked with moves to Bayern Munich and Manchester United during the January transfer window.
United even inquired about Nkunku during negotiations for Alejandro Garnacho, but neither club was willing to meet Chelsea’s £54.8m valuation.
With the 27-year-old now staying at Stamford Bridge, Maresca acknowledged he may not have given Nkunku the opportunities he deserved.
“Christo, since day one, has been very good, very professional,” Maresca said after Chelsea’s 2-1 win over West Ham. “Probably in some moments I have been unfair to him because he deserves something more. But hopefully, from now on, he can help us a little bit more.”
Despite his struggles for game time, Nkunku remains a key option for Chelsea as they push for a top-four finish. The victory over West Ham lifted the Blues to fourth in the Premier League, two points ahead of Manchester City.
Maresca also urged Chelsea fans to be more patient with the team’s style of play.
“We love our fans in the way they were tonight,” he said. “We just ask for a little more patience when we keep the ball against teams that sit back. They have to trust us.”
With the transfer window closed, Nkunku now has the chance to prove his worth under Maresca as Chelsea aim to secure Champions League football for next season.