Maresca addresses “lack of effort” claims about attacker as support run out of patience | OneFootball

Chelsea fans are not happy with Christopher Nkunku’s performances or his level of effort in games, and that sentiment has been passed on to journalists, who have either seen the same things themselves or are feeding off the general sense of the support that the Frenchman just isn’t trying his hardest.

Accordingly, manager Enzo Maresca was asked about the former Leipzig man in the post-match press conference today after yet another sluggish showing.

“No [I don’t think it’s a lack of effort], I think it’s just one game. I don’t think it’s a lack of effort because at the end I can see Christo every day and he’s working well. Sometimes probably he wants to give more during a game and he struggles a little bit, but for sure I don’t think it’s a lack of effort.”

Well that’s slightly confusing, because the striker certainly looks like he’s not bothered.

We don’t think Maresca would lie – he’s been happy to call out players before for a lack of effort. So if Nkunku’s issue isn’t that he’s not trying – what is his issue? Because almost every performance in the last year has been indifferent at best, and at times pretty embarrassingly poor for a player of his quality.

Maresca seems to contradict himself over Nkunku

Christopher Nkunku chases a ball against Brentford. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

Maresca continued to insist on defending him, although his next answer did seem to contradict the first one and hint at some lack of effort:

“Our team was getting better and better. Because we tried to keep the ball, they ran and after 45 minutes, one hour, they could be tired. So we expect to improve in the second half. In terms of Christo, I always say the same. When they work hard and they give everything, it’s not a problem.”

Given there clearly was a problem, is he now saying therefore Nkunku didn’t “work hard” and “give everything”?