Enzo Maresca has insisted Chelsea do not miss Joao Felix in a parting shot to the forward following his loan move to AC Milan, despite suffering a fourth round FA Cup exit.
Felix rejoined the Blues last summer from Atletico Madrid for £46million following a brief loan stint in 2023.
The Portugal international mostly played in the Conference and started just three Premier League matches, with seven goals in 20 appearances across all competitions.
Felix joined Milan on loan for the remainder of the season on deadline day of the January transfer window and scored on his debut as the Italian giants beat Roma 3-1 in the Coppa Italia.
He also started in Saturday’s win over Empoli, while Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round after a 2-1 defeat by Brighton.
Despite the Blues early exit in the competition, Maresca insisted it was the right decision to let Felix depart.
He said: ‘I don’t think we miss Joao. Joao is happy there and we are happy Joao is happy there. We had two striker injuries on deadline day, it is something difficult to think. Nico [Jackson] can be back very soon.
‘Sometimes I think you need to play some games without players to realise how important they are. Off the ball, his [Jackson] pressing is always very good and on the ball he is a threat always.’
The defeat at the Amex means Chelsea are now out of both domestic cup competitions and the Italian wants his side to give their all in the Premier League and Conference League.
‘We started very good, controlled and created some chances. The second-half more or less happened the same. If there is something good after a defeat is now we can be focused on the Premier League and Conference,’ Maresca added.
‘It is for sure a shame. No doubt. It is a difficult competition. For sure, it is a big shame for us. For me, a good season is seeing the team improving game after game; go through bad moments, difficulty, it is the only way this club can compete for something important.
‘After we concede the second goal, we had three or four chances to score so the reaction was there. Every game is different. In terms of reaction, after the second goal we concede, the reaction was there.
‘For me, for sure, we need to learn how to win games 1-0. No doubt. The same way, the last game against West Ham, we were losing 1-0 and then we won 2-1. In terms of the team, we need to learn how to win 1-0. Big clubs do that.’
