Enzo Maresca’s comments on Chelsea’s only January signing will leave fans feeling confused | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has warned Chelsea fans not to expect new signing Mathis Amougou to play much over the second half of the season.

Amougou was Chelsea’s only signing of the January window, with the 19-year-old arriving from St Etienne for £12.5m to provide cover in midfield.

The midfielder has signed an eight year contract at Stamford Bridge and has been training at Cobham this week with his new team-mates.

Maresca on Amougou

Chelsea let six players leave in the window, with Amougou the sole arrival, and the Blues do look very light in the middle of the park.

Romeo Lavia is still sidelined and his constant injury issues are a serious problem for Chelsea, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in danger of being run into the ground.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is the only fit midfield back-up, but it’s evident Maresca doesn’t particularly trust the 26-year-old.

Amougou trained with his new team-mates for the first time this week.

The signing of Amougou gives Chelsea another body in midfield, which they will need over the second half of the campaign, but Maresca’s comments on the teenager are strange to say the least.

“We didn’t sign him thinking he’s going to play an important part with us [this season], Maresca said as quoted by The Evening Standard.

“The reason why is because of the age and we need the process.

“The reason we signed him is because we think he’s a good player and in some moment after a while, we think he can help us.

“Mathis is the same age as Josh [Acheampong], Tyrique [George], Marc Guiu, born 2006. He’s just 19 and at that age if they’re here it’s because we think they’re good but they could be better.

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“With Mathis, it’s more or less the same. We saw he could be a good player but he needs to arrive here, adapt, progress.”

Amougou has been added to the Conference League squad for the knockout stages of the competition, and it’s believed the plan is to send him on loan to Strasbourg next season when Andrey Santos returns.