Enzo Maresca has challenged Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku to get back to being 'big players' for Chelsea as opportunities come their way with the club's star names sitting out the Conference League league phase.
Ukraine winger Mudryk cost £89million in January 2023 but has scored just seven times in 64 appearances since his move from Shakhtar Donetsk, whereas £54m striker Nkunku has found the net nine times in his 23 games but only four goals have come in the Premier League.
And with top scorer Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana and Ben Chilwell all left out of the squad for the league phase, which begins on Thursday against Belgian side Gent, Maresca has urged the pair to seize their chance.
Asked about Mudryk following his cameo off the bench against Barrow in the Carabao Cup, Maresca said: 'I think he did OK. It's not just about Misha. We can say the same about Christopher Nkunku.
'We signed him like a big player — in this moment he is not playing Premier League football, but in football things change quick.'
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has challenged two of his Blues stars to get back to being 'big players'
The Italian insisted he had no regrets about leaving England left back Chilwell out of his Conference League party, having relegated him to his 'bomb squad', and admitted that Palmer had been left out to protect him from burnout.
'It's not about reliance on Cole,' he added. 'For us or any team in the world, Cole is an extra, something that you need. But we also need to protect some players. They need that.'