Enzo Maresca says Chelsea will be “a little conservative” with Cole Palmer. He continues to struggle with gro caliber injuries and reveals when the Blues star returns to action.
Palmer was taken away early last weekend in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, and Maresca made many other bewildered alternatives, so ahead of Saturday’s blues clash with Brighton at Stamford Bridge, the Italian boss made clear that the Talisman playmaker would not return after the next international break.
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Maresca said at a press conference: “We decided to protect Cole so it won’t get any worse with injuries. So we’ll let him rest for the next couple of weeks until after the international break and see if the rest means he can recover 100%.
“It’s just managing the pain in his gro caliber. The amount of game, this can happen. We try to be a little conservative with him.
Palmer also means that a big blow for Chelsea will miss a visit to Benfica and Liverpool’s Stamford Bridge, but Maresca has vowed to “find a solution,” but he can’t “revve as much as several other forward players were injured.
“I’m going to find another solution without Cole (Palmer).
“Last year (against Brighton) we put out Nicholas Jackson and Mark Giu. Neto played as No 9. He plays there and does some good things.
“I’m going to find a solution.
“It’s a bit early to think of this as defining a season. It’s too early. The main thing is growing and improving. This is important to me as a manager.
“We always try to spin, and it has to be a major target for the game and the amount of injuries.
“It may be impossible to rotate because there are no correct numbers in the position.
“If you have three games in a week, you’ll try to spin, but some players need to play almost every game.
“Unfortunately, there are seven or eight players out. Was this the result from last season? There’s no answer to that. But we’re trying to adapt.”
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Enzo Fernandez could play in a midfield position ahead of Palmer’s usual occupying against Brighton, with Maresca welcoming the Argentinian as “a key player”.
He added: “Enzo can play in a variety of positions for us. 90% of the game is an offensive midfielder. He’s very good in that position.
“He can have good and bad moments due to the amount of games. We played 64 games last season. It’s normal to lower the level at some point.
“It depends on the game plan (where he plays). Enzo is an important player and we try to use him as much as we can.”
