ENZO MARESCA PRAISES: COACH CONFIRMS CHELSEA IS "BETTER TEAM WITH COLE PALMER"
Cole Palmer scored in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Everton but insists he's still managing his injury and is "not at peak" form. Maresca calls him Chelsea's "best player."
Even after scoring in Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Everton, Cole Palmer isn't convinced he's back to his best. The 23-year-old's goal was his first in three months, helping the team move up to fourth place in the league. Although he seems to be over his injury problems, the England player isn't getting ahead of himself.
Chelsea back on track
Palmer, who has been dealing with injuries this season, played well against Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and even showed flashes of the brilliance that fans have enjoyed for the last couple of years. But he's not letting the win go to his head.
Talking to BBC Match of the Day, he said, I wouldn't say I'm at my best just yet. I'm still dealing with an injury. I'm hoping it gets better, but I still have some work to do. It is improving because of the work I've been doing with the team's physios. It's just about taking it slow and not overdoing it. I'm just taking it one day at a time, hoping it gets better.”
England's manager, Thomas Tuchel, was in the stands watching Enzo Maresca's team, and Palmer is definitely on his radar for the 2026 World Cup. But Palmer is focusing on each match as it comes.
He said, To be honest, I haven't been looking too far ahead. I was injured for three months, so I just need to get back in shape. I know what I can do when I'm fully fit, so I hope I get there soon.
Maresca praises Palmer.
Maresca had said before that Palmer is Chelsea's best player. After the game, he didn't stray too far from that sentiment.
The game is never over. We had many chances; we missed some. But overall, I'm happy with the clean sheet and the effort, the coach said. We've said it before, we're a better team with Cole. It's unfortunate that he was out for a lot of games, but he's back now, and he'll definitely help us.
Maresca also praised Reece James and Malo Gusto, who scored and assisted against Everton.
He commented, They're good players, and good players can play anywhere. They can play as full-backs or midfielders. [Malo Gusto] took his chance, and he assisted Cole's goal, so I'm thrilled for Malo. Just because we can't win every game doesn't mean we're not ready to compete for titles. When you don't let the other team score, it's not just about one player; it's about the whole team.
After moving up the standings recently, Everton fans were hoping for a good result. But after a solid start, they struggled, especially after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall got injured.
David Moyes told Sky Sports about the loss: I thought there were some good moments; we played pretty well today. We've played well away from home [this season], and we did well today. I know it's hard to say that after losing 2-0, but we did. Maybe we needed a bit of luck in the final third. They were clinical in the chances they got, and we weren't when we got close to their goal. That made the difference.
They did a lot of good things. We played well, but we didn't get the three points. You can say "well done" all you want, but we need to get those points.
What's next for Cole Palmer?
Chelsea has a busy schedule ahead, including a match against Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday and a Premier League game against Newcastle United next Saturday.
Will Palmer play in both games this week?
Maresca said, Right now, he can't.
He added that Palmer likely won't play against Cardiff.
LIAM ROSENIOR’S "DETAILED TALKS" WITH CHELSEA LEADERSHIP REVEAL AGGRESSIVE SUMMER TRANSFER STRATEGY
Liam Rosenior confirms no Chelsea players want to leave, including Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, despite UCL exit.
Liam Rosenior is currently engaged in thorough discussions with Chelsea’s leadership about their plans for the summer transfer window. Interestingly, none of the players has approached him expressing a desire to leave.
After Chelsea’s exit from the Champions League last-16 against Paris Saint-Germain, speculation swirled around Enzo Fernandez’s future, while names like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo have also been linked with moves away since Rosenior took charge in January. Ahead of their trip to Everton, Rosenior addressed questions about possible departures if the team misses out on Europe’s top competition again. He also spoke about the ongoing efforts to bring new players in.
“We're having very detailed talks about where we need to strengthen,” he said, referring to conversations with the sporting director team, headed by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. “I’ve shared my thoughts on what’s needed, and we’re mostly aligned on the approach, which is encouraging. But the priority is also handling the present properly. It’s crucial to be in a good spot now. Planning is important, but so is winning in the moment. That’s why I’m here, and I’m having positive discussions with ownership and the sporting directors about it.”
Rosenior emphasised that key players like Enzo Fernández want to remain at Chelsea. After Fernandez’s recent interview with ESPN Argentina, where he was noncommittal about his future following the heavy loss to PSG, Rosenior reached out to him personally.
“Our plans don’t hinge solely on qualifying for the Champions League; there are many variables,” Rosenior explained. “We need to make the best of the situation we’re in and stay as strong as possible. I maintain a close relationship with the players; we talk beyond football about their families and their lives. I’m particularly close with Enzo and the others. Since I arrived, no one has told me they want to leave in the summer. The focus is really on improving together as a team and figuring out what it takes to win right now.”
When asked specifically if that applies to Fernandez, Palmer, and Caicedo, Rosenior was clear: “They love it here.”
WHY ENZO FERNANDEZ REFUSES TO COMMIT TO CHELSEA’S FUTURE PROJECT
Enzo Fernandez has sparked Chelsea exit fears after refusing to commit to his future following a 2-8 defeat to PSG.
Chelsea fans barely had time to process a brutal 8-2 Champions League thrashing by PSG on Tuesday when vice-captain Enzo Fernandez stirred things up even more. ESPN Argentina asked him about his future, and instead of assurance, Fernandez left everyone guessing about whether he’d still be at Stamford Bridge next season.
His answer? “I don’t know. There are eight games left, and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup, and then we’ll see.” Not exactly what supporters needed to hear after a rough night. Honestly, Enzo, now’s probably not the best time for uncertainty.
People have been gossiping about Fernandez’s next move for a while now. Real Madrid and PSG keep cropping up as possible destinations, despite Chelsea sources insisting they won’t sell him. He’s locked into a contract until 2032, but if he pushes for an exit, who knows if that changes.
Fernandez holds a hefty price tag of £107 million; when he arrived in January 2023, it was a British record at the time. He’s backed it up this season, stacking up 12 goals, 6 assists, and playing more minutes than anyone else on the squad.
Still, Chelsea has been searching for someone who can play that No. 10 role where Fernandez has spent most of the season. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is on their wishlist, though nothing’s happened yet. Rogers, 23 and once a Manchester City academy kid, has been lighting it up at Villa lately. He signed a contract extension in November, but rumours about his future just won’t die.
Rogers is definitely on Chelsea’s radar. If Fernandez leaves this summer, and really, that’s still wide open; Rogers could be a target.
You can expect Chelsea to be busy in the market soon. They need a centre-back after missing out on Jeremy Jacquet in January. Douglas Luiz was briefly considered but wound up at Villa, so midfield is still in the mix. Plus, given their attacking troubles this season, they’ll be looking to upgrade up front too.
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