COLE PALMER'S RETURN: CHELSEA STAR CLEARED FOR LEEDS COMEBACK
Chelsea, six points behind Arsenal, welcomes back Cole Palmer for a crucial match. Enzo Fernandez insists the team is still in the title race alongside Liverpool and both Manchester clubs.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer is set to return to action against Leeds this week after being out for two months, says manager Enzo Maresca. Palmer hasn't played since the loss to Manchester United on September 20. Though he was on the bench against Arsenal this past weekend, he didn't play, as the team is easing him back in.
Palmer's Comeback
Palmer's been out due to an injury since the United game, but made it back to the bench for the Arsenal match. Even though Moises Caicedo's red card might have stopped Palmer from playing, he’s now expected to play against Leeds on Wednesday. His return from a groin problem was planned for last week, but he broke his toe in a strange accident at home, pushing his comeback back. But now, Maresca has confirmed he’s ready for the Elland Road game.
Maresca Speaks
Maresca told reporters that Palmer is ready to play, mentioning that he was on the bench last game. He noted that Palmer needs to get back into shape and that the plan is to slowly increase his playing time until he can play a full 90 minutes.
Maresca also mentioned that he has a tough call to make about Reece James's selection, saying he'd like to start him but needs to make the right decision.
When asked if James could play in the midfield, Maresca said he thought James could play in both positions, as he spent his career as a full-back but also played in the midfield. The decision depends on the game plan and whether they need more strength in the middle.
Chelsea's Title Chase
Chelsea and Manchester City are close behind Arsenal in the Premier League, and they managed a 1-1 draw against the leaders this weekend, even with Caicedo's red card.
Midfielder Enzo Fernandez thinks they're in the title race, telling GiveMeSport that there are many teams in the running, like Liverpool and both Manchester clubs.
He added that the Premier League is competitive, especially with Arsenal doing well and Liverpool being a great team. He thinks the Champions League will be tough, but the team will aim for the final.
Fernandez also talked about why he joined Chelsea, saying he wanted to move to the Premier League and didn't hesitate when Chelsea made an offer.
What's Next?
Chelsea will play Leeds this week and is six points behind Arsenal before this week's games. They also play Bournemouth this weekend, hoping to close the gap.
Arsenal faces Brentford this week in a London derby and then plays Aston Villa this weekend. Arsenal also has a game against Club Brugge a few days after the Villa match, whereas Chelsea plays Atalanta on Tuesday.
XAVI OPENLY DECLARES INTEREST IN CHELSEA JOB DURING PERMANENT MANAGER SEARCH
With Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola on the shortlist, explore why Xavi Hernández wants to take over the Chelsea hotseat next.
Xavi has openly said he’d love to manage Chelsea, and now the Blues are hunting for someone to replace Liam Rosenior.
Rosenior got the sack last month after a rough patch just three months into his huge contract that was supposed to last six and a half years. Calum McFarlane is filling in as interim head coach until season’s end, but Chelsea are actively looking for a permanent boss for the 2026/27 campaign.
They're considering some big names. Xabi Alonso’s been mentioned; he’s been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in January. Andoni Iraola, who’s about to leave Bournemouth, is also on the shortlist.
Cesc Fabregas has been linked after his strong run at Como, and Frank Lampard’s in the mix too, fresh off winning the Championship with Coventry and securing promotion.
But Xavi really stands out. He’s already made it clear he’s interested in the Chelsea job. Back in 2019, before his Barcelona return, he said, “I don’t hide it; my goal is to come back to Europe and to Barca. It's my challenge, but I’m enjoying this current project. For me, training a team in Barcelona would be a privilege, the biggest privilege.”
He didn’t just talk about Spain either. “Honestly, who doesn’t love the Premier League? The atmosphere, packed stadiums, everyone says it’s incredible,” Xavi admitted. “If I had to pick, I’d go for a big team: City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal, or Tottenham. Klopp, Pochettino, and Unai Emery are doing amazing work there.”
After returning to Barcelona in 2021, Xavi led them to a La Liga title and the Supercopa de España before Hansi Flick took over in 2024. He’s been out of work since.
Now, Chelsea seems seriously interested in the Spaniard. According to The i, the club wants someone who can embed a strong football identity across their teams, something Enzo Maresca started.
Getting Xavi won’t be easy, though. Morocco’s national team reportedly sees him as a top candidate to replace Walid Regragui, and Manchester United is eyeing him too as they weigh options beyond Michael Carrick.
Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso is the bookmakers’ favourite for the Chelsea role, but word is he’d want more control over club decisions if he moves to west London.
COLE PALMER MISSES PENALTY AS CHELSEA SUFFER HISTORIC SIXTH CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE DEFEAT
Chelsea matched a 1912 record with their 6th straight loss, falling 3-1 to Forest as Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice at the Bridge.
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Chelsea hit rock bottom again, losing 3-1 to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. That’s six Premier League defeats in a row now, something the club hadn’t seen since 1912. Just when you thought the season couldn’t get any worse, Forest showed up with a makeshift lineup and absolutely stunned them. Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice, one barely a minute into the match, and then Igor Jesus put away a penalty, and suddenly Forest was six points clear of the drop zone.
Chelsea hadn’t scored in five games, and it looked like that streak would go on forever. Then, in stoppage time, Joao Pedro finally managed an overhead kick to break the drought. That run was made even more ridiculous earlier when Cole Palmer missed a first-half penalty. Matz Sels, Forest’s backup goalkeeper, saved it.
Honestly, the crowd in the Shed End probably barely recognised their own team. Pereira swapped in seven new outfield players, most of them with almost no league experience; he was clearly thinking about the upcoming Europa League semi-final. But it looked like Chelsea was the stranger out there.
Things only got worse for interim head coach Calum McFarlane. He lost Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho to late injuries, so 18-year-old Jesse Derry had to make his Premier League debut. Then, late in the first half, Derry collided heads with Forest’s Zach Abbott and had to be stretchered off after getting oxygen. It was brutal to watch.
The match itself? Chaos. Less than two minutes in, Chelsea messed up their own throw-in and let Forest stroll through midfield. Dilane Bakwa beat Marc Cucurella with little effort and crossed to Awoniyi, who was completely unmarked and headed it in.
Fifteen minutes later, Chelsea conceded again. Bakwa whipped in another cross; Malo Gusto pulled Awoniyi’s shirt, and VAR handed Forest a penalty. Jesus hammered it right down the middle.
The first half was hopeless, and by the end, serious concern set in after that nasty head clash between Derry and Abbott. Abbott, playing just his second league game, left on his own, but Derry needed serious treatment and was stretchered off.
After a nearly ten-minute stoppage, Palmer’s penalty was stopped by Sels. At halftime, Levi Colwill returned from a major injury he hadn’t played since tearing his ACL in August. He tried to restore order, but nothing changed.
Forest’s third goal came just seven minutes into the second half. Gibbs-White crossed, and Awoniyi tapped in from close range, just managing to stay onside. Chelsea’s keeper, Robert Sanchez, took a knock and left with a bandaged head after colliding with Gibbs-White.
Pedro’s late goal barely counted for anything. The few Chelsea fans left in the stadium cheered, but it was more out of irony than joy.
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