Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has insisted his side are relying less and less on star midfielder Cole Palmer.
The Blues have relied on the talented attacking midfielder since he arrived Manchester City in the summer of 2023 for an economic amount of 45 million pounds. Palmer has scored or created an unprecedented 48 goals in 47 Premier League appearances for the west London outfit, prompting growing concern over an element of overconfidence.
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino memorably referred to the club as ‘Cole Palmer FC’ last season. The Argentine’s successor, Maresca, also touched on the team’s need to evolve beyond always turning to the England international, especially as opponents are turning more and more to the human mark. Chelseathe talisman of
Curtis Jones had a hand in both goals as Liverpool defeated the Blues 2-1 at Anfield in October, but none of the Reds Arne Slot stood out the midfielder’s excellent work off the ball after the game, praising how he snuffed out Palmer’s threat.
In the seven weeks since, Maresca believes Chelsea are no longer reliant on Palmer so much. “If you remember, in my first press conference I said we can’t trust Cole for every game because it’s not right,” the Italian told reporters gathered ahead of the London derby with his team. Tottenham Hotspur on sunday
“He has to enjoy football. But if we prepare the season thinking that Cole is the only solution, we are wrong.
“The only thing I can say is that since we started, with the right side with Noni (Madueke) and Pedro (Neto) and the left side with Mischa (Mudryk) and Jadon (Sancho), Enzo (Fernández), Cole, Joao .(Felix), Christo (Nkunku), the attacking players are doing well.”
Palmer has been left out of Chelsea’s squad for the Europa League group stage, watching from the sidelines as the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Christopher Nkunku Joao Felix fill the boots in Europe’s third-tier club competition.
In the Premier League, Palmer remains Chelsea’s top scorer (nine goals) and top assist provider (six), but Nicolas Jackson’s prolific run of form has lightened the load. Noni Madueke’s work ethics can be questionedbut the winger has played his part, contributing directly to seven top-flight goals this season.
