Chelsea’s Maresca Unfazed by Palmer’s Recent Struggles
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca remains confident in Cole Palmer, dismissing any concerns about the forward’s form or demeanor despite a challenging spell for both the player and the team.
Palmer, 22, has found himself in a dry spell, going six matches without a goal and failing to register an assist in his last 13 outings. This dip follows an exceptional 2024 campaign, where he delivered 26 goals and 13 assists, setting a club record and leading the Premier League in goal contributions for the calendar year.
As Chelsea prepares to face Southampton at Stamford Bridge, Maresca made it clear that he isn’t worried about Palmer’s current form. “Cole is a top player, and like every footballer, he’ll have ups and downs,” he said. “Right now, our struggles as a team in front of goal are affecting everyone.”
The Italian coach pointed out that Palmer’s frustration stems from Chelsea’s inconsistent results, not from personal issues. He also highlighted missed opportunities in key fixtures against Manchester City and Aston Villa, reinforcing the need for the entire squad to step up.
“The issue is that we’ve put a lot of weight on Cole to solve everything,” Maresca added. “But from day one, I’ve said that success must come from the whole team, not just one player.”
On team news, Maresca confirmed that Filip Jorgensen will keep his place in goal despite an error leading to a costly goal against Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Trevoh Chalobah is expected to miss seven to ten days due to injury.
