Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has praised hat-trick hero Christopher Nkunku as one of three players who “deserve to start.”
Nkunku scored three goals as Chelsea cruised to a 5-0 victory over Barrow in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night. The Frenchman netted twice within the first 15 minutes, before a Joao Felix free-kick ricocheted off goalkeeper Paul Farman, making it 3-0 at halftime.
Pedro Neto added his first goal after the break, and Nkunku completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute.
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“I’m happy for Pedro, for Christo, and for Joao,” Maresca said. “They all deserve to start in the Premier League, but they’re not in the lineup at the moment.”
“The way they take their chances when given minutes is fantastic. Whether it’s five, 45, or 90 minutes, they’re always ready, and that’s the most important thing.”