Christopher Nkunku: Chelsea Superstar Explains Why He Celebrates With Balloon

• Christopher Nkunku celebrated his trademark style after scoring in Chelsea's win over Brighton
• The Frenchman pulled out a blue balloon, inflated it, stretched out his arms, and gazed skyward
• Nkunku's season has been marred by injuries since his move to Stamford Bridge from RB Leipzig

Chelsea fans haven't had the chance to witness Christopher Nkunku's full potential this season.

Signed from RB Leipzig for a significant fee last year, injuries have hindered the Frenchman's debut campaign in England.

Injuries to both his knee and hamstring have limited Nkunku to 13 appearances in all competitions, with just 10 in the league.

Despite this, his performances suggest he could be a valuable asset for Mauricio Pochettino in the upcoming seasons.

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Nkunku scored his third goal of the campaign in Chelsea's 2-1 victory at Brighton, celebrating with his trademark balloon ritual of inflating it and raising his arms outward, per Sportbible.

Why Nkunku celebrates with balloon

The first instance of this unique celebration occurred during a Leipzig victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the 2022 Champions League. Fans were intrigued and puzzled, wondering about the significance of the balloon.

The reason behind the celebration is rather straightforward, as Nkunku opened up after first performing it:

"The balloon was for my son. He likes balloons," he said via Givemesport.

With this win, Chelsea is on the cusp of securing sixth place in the Premier League, which would guarantee them a spot in next year's Europa League.

The Blues rank among the Premier League's most in-form teams, with only Arsenal and Manchester City accruing more points over the last 15 matches than the Stamford Bridge club.

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Recce James slammed after receiving red card

Sports Brief also reported on Recce James's criticism after being red-carded during his side's penultimate Premier League game against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Despite coming on in the second half, his presence on the pitch was cut short due to a reckless foul late in the match, leading to his sending-off after a VAR review.

Football fans who monitored the game, particularly the Chelsea faithful, could not conceal their disappointment with James being dismissed after only a few minutes.

Pochettino lauds Chelsea's push for Europe

Sports Brief earlier reported that Mauricio Pochettino praised Chelsea's late push towards European qualification, seeing it as a fitting outcome for the club's perseverance.

Following a 2-1 victory on Wednesday, the Stamford Bridge outfit rose to sixth position in the Premier League standings with one game remaining in a challenging season.