Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed that he has warned Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix that they 'must work' if they want to start games this season.
During the back end of the summer transfer window, there was much debate over what kind of players that Chelsea needed in the final third, the general consensus being that a centre-forward should be at the top of their priorities.
However, at a time when the Blues missed out on Victor Osimhen, they got deals over the line for Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix respectively.
Both players make the switch to Stamford Bridge having under-performed at their previous clubs, particularly Sancho who was frozen out at Manchester United before a loan move back to Borussia Dortmund.
Felix also spent last season at another club, Atletico Madrid being willing to send their club-record signing to Barcelona for 2024-25.
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Maresca delivers warning
Since Sancho completed the loan transfer to Chelsea, which comes with an obligation to buy, Maresca has heaped praise on the qualities of the England international.
Nevertheless, addressing what he told the pair when Chelsea were in negotiations with their respective teams, the Italian has indicated they are not guaranteed game time at the West Londoners.
He told reporters, as quoted by The Sun, Maresca said: "Listen, we have Jadon, Joao, these kinds of players. Before they joined I had a chat with them and one of my messages was if you come here and don't work properly you are not going to play.
"Before they arrived the message was clear. For Jadon. For Joao. But I said, 'the reason I'm speaking to you is that I really like you. If you come here in the way that we want, we are happy.
"But if you come there and don't work hard, it's better if you don't come'."
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When can the pair expect to make their debuts?
With Chelsea facing Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening, there is every expectation that both players will feature in the squad.
That said, a start for either is highly unlikely due to their lack of game time since the beginning of the campaign, Sancho having accumulated no minutes.
Since August 25, Felix has made three appearances totalling 79 minutes for club and country, and he, too, should only be selected on the substitutes' bench.
Darren Plant
