LIAM ROSENIOR REVEALS SPECIAL FITNESS PLAN TO SAVE COLE PALMER’S SEASON
Discover the data behind Cole Palmer’s new "withdrawn" role and why Liam Rosenior believes the star needs a different approach.
Eight games. Four competitions. All in just 29 days. That’s one way to get thrown into the deep end, and Liam Rosenior, Chelsea’s new head coach, definitely didn’t get an easy start.
He didn’t just survive; he’s done pretty well. Six wins out of eight. The only two losses? Both against Arsenal, both in the League Cup semi-final. Not bad for a guy who barely had time to settle into his new office.
And yet, with everything moving so fast, Rosenior probably hasn’t had a moment to really dig into some of the bigger tactical puzzles at Chelsea. One of the biggest has to be Cole Palmer and how to get the best out of him.
Palmer’s had a rough patch, no question. He got sidelined for three months with a toe injury between September and December. Five goals for the season isn’t shocking given that absence. Then he picked up a thigh problem and missed a couple more games in January.
He hasn’t really found his groove in the Premier League either. Over his last 16 league games in 2024–25, he’s managed just one goal, a penalty against Liverpool. And if you look at his last 11 games this season, he’s only got one goal from open play.
Honestly, the stats don’t do him any favours. Chelsea have actually looked sharper both attacking and defending when Palmer hasn’t been on the pitch this season.
So Rosenior’s still working Palmer out. The midfielder played four times under the new boss, but for the two toughest games away at Napoli and Arsenal, he started on the bench. In Naples, Palmer came on and immediately left his mark with two assists, using the extra space as the tempo dropped. Against Arsenal, though, even with half an hour to make something happen, he couldn’t break through a defence that’s stingier than any other in the league.
Early signs suggest Rosenior’s pushing Palmer into more of a playmaker role. Palmer’s averaging 63.5 touches per 90 minutes now, up from his Chelsea average of 59.7. But he’s barely touching the ball in the box, just 1.8 times per 90, compared to his usual 4.7. In 255 minutes under Rosenior, Palmer only managed five touches in the penalty area.
It’s a deeper role, but it hasn’t led to more creativity, at least not yet. The chances he’s creating per 90 minutes have dropped from 2.2 to 1.4, and his expected assists are down from 0.25 to 0.04. Rosenior has mostly used him off the right wing so far; 53% of his minutes have come from that side.
Palmer set the standard sky-high when he first joined, scoring 43 goals over his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge. There’s no reason he can’t get back to that level, especially with Rosenior backing him.
But with a World Cup coming up and Chelsea still fighting on three fronts, Palmer needs to find his form again soon. The sooner, the better.
After Tuesday’s loss to Arsenal, Palmer and Rosenior were deep in conversation on the pitch while the Gunners celebrated. Clearly, they’ve got a lot to work through.
Rosenior put it like this: “What we’re doing, not just with Cole but with all the players, is making sure they can play at the level they need to be at. He’s been brilliant and wants to play every minute, but he’s maturing and gets the bigger picture.
“These lads had the Club World Cup and no break. Now they’ve got World Cups ahead too.
“My job’s to get the best out of him and the team, especially with the schedule we’ve got coming up.
“It’s not about leaving him out; it’s about making sure he’s right, and he helps the team the way he wants to.”
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.
Must Read
