Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca downplayed injury concerns over Cole Palmer after Thursday night’s 2-0 win over Servette in the UEFA Conference League.
Palmer did not start the match at Stamford Bridge but came off the bench in the second half and later looked uncomfortable, holding his right hamstring, when he came off the pitch at full-time.
With 22 goals and 11 assists in 33 appearances in the Premier League Chelsea last season, losing the newly crowned PFA Young Player of the Year for any length of time would be a disaster.
Cole Palmer straight down the tunnel at full-time and grimaced as he left. He was holding the back of his thigh. Hopefully nothing too serious. pic.twitter.com/o3pYabTcEg
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) August 22, 2024
It was first on the agenda as Maresca then faced the press, but he was completely calm.
“Cole felt something, but he looks good,” explained the Italian coach. “Hopefully there’s no problem and he can be available for Sunday’s game (at Wolves).”
Against Servette, it was one dirty performance from a Chelsea team still trying to figure itself outled by a coach who probably, understandably, doesn’t know his best team.
The Blues might have scored more at Stamford Bridge, but they might as well have conceded several on another night. All in all, a 2-0 win gets the ball rolling, both for the season, having lost the opening weekend of the Premier League, and for the Maresca era in general.
“We’re learning how to manage the game,” the boss said. “Keeping the ball is the right intention with 2-0 but where it is not good, in our half. You have to do the same on the opposite side. It was important to win the game with nine changes. There were many good things. .”
Chelsea travel to Switzerland next week for the second leg against Servette, with a place in the Conference League group stage at stake. Before that, it’s Wolves at Molineux in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. It’s only August, but the calendar is already biting.
