Chelsea in a team huddle ahead of EFL Cup game. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)
Chelsea in a team huddle ahead of EFL Cup game. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

Jamie O’Hara slams “moaning” Chelsea ace and tells him to fight for his place in the team

Jamie O’Hara has told Christopher Nkunku to stop moaning about his lack of playing time, but urged Chelsea not to sell the Frenchman.

Nkunku arrived at Stamford Bridge from German side RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth £52m, a move that was met with plenty of excitement.

The 27-year-old had a debut campaign to forget as injuries limited him to just 14 appearances in all competitions under then boss Mauricio Pochettino.

O’Hara slams Nkunku for moaning over lack of game time

Nkunku was one of Chelsea’s best performers in pre-season and it appeared he was set for a key role under Enzo Maresca after he started the opening game of the season against Manchester City.

However, things haven’t gone to plan since then and that’s the only game he’s started in the league this campaign, with the majority of his minutes coming in the cup competitions.

The France international is the club’s top scorer with ten goals, but recent reports have suggested he’s unhappy with his game time and Chelsea would consider offers if they could get back the £52m they invested. 

Christopher Nkunku celebrates a goal. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Nkunku has scored one Premier League goal this season. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

Former Tottenham player O’Hara has slammed Nkunku for moaning about his game time and warned Chelsea not to sell the attacker.

“He’s a top player and they can’t be getting rid of him in January,” he told Grosvenor Sport as quoted by Metro.

“I don’t know what he’s moaning about to be honest – I know he’s not playing week in and week out in the Premier League, but that’s fair play to the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer.

“Nkunku just has to deal with it, he was injured all of last season and has come back this year, so he needs to fight his way back into the team.

“Chelsea are doing well and are in a good place at the moment, so Nkunku just needs to accept it and fight for his position.”

It’s understandable why Nkunku is frustrated with his game time and it will be interesting to see how many games he starts as the fixtures come thick and fast in the build-up to Christmas.

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