"There is a reason behind it" - Enzo Maresca explains Cole Palmer's omission from Chelsea squad for UEFA Conference League
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has explained the reason behind leaving Cole Palmer out of the Blues' UEFA Europa Conference League squad. The in-form attacking midfielder is one of the most prominent members of the squad to have been omitted from the squad.
Cole Palmer, Ben Chilwell, Romeo Lavia, and defender Wesley Fofana have all been left out of Chelsea's Conference League squad. Enzo Maresca has said that he has decided to protect Palmer and keep him fresh for other games.
Ahead of Chelsea's Conference League opener against Gent on October 3, Maresca said, as quoted by Goal:
"We played some games without Cole, but sure and for us, Cole is something extra that you need. We also need to think a bit to protect some players. They need that. There is a reason behind it and I think Cole needs to be protected."
Cole Palmer featured for the west London giants in their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying round against Servette as they secured a 4-1 aggregate win. The Blues can register Palmer and other senior players for the knockout stages if they have to make it through the initial phase.
Palmer has been Chelsea's best player by some distance having joined the club in the summer of 2023 from Manchester City in a deal worth a reported £42.5 million. The 22-year-old has scored 31 goals and provided 19 assists in 53 appearances for the Blues.
Shaun Wright-Phillips claims that Chelsea are not overly reliant on Cole Palmer thanks to another player stepping up
Former Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has heaped praise Nicolas Jackson for stepping up this season. The former England international has insisted that thanks to the Senegal international the Blues are not over-reliant on Cole Palmer.
Wright-Phillips has admitted that he criticized the 23-year-old for his poor and inconsistent finishing last season. He has said that the former Villarreal attacker must have been working closely with Enzo Maresca to improve his ability in the final third. Wright-Phillips told Premier League Productions, as quoted by TBR Football:
“Do you know what I love is, to be honest, Jackson. I was highly critical of him last year. I think, to see the difference in him this year in that final third area."
The Premier League-winning winger with Chelsea under Jose Mourinho in 2005-06 added:
"He definitely has had one-on-one work with the manager and that is helping Chelsea as well because, now they aren’t just relying on Cole Palmer. He is stepping up to the plate, whether it be assists or scoring. He is in the right place and taking chances.”
Jackson joined the Blues from Villarreal in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth a reported £32 million. In his debut season, he racked up 17 goals and six assists in 44 games across competiitons but was criticized by many for his poor finishing. He has done significantly better this season having scored four goals and provided three assists in seven games across competitions.