Palmer gamble backfires as Chelsea’s injury woes deepen
Chelsea’s trip to Old Trafford ended in more than just a narrow defeat. The sight of Cole Palmer trudging off after 20 minutes underlined the risk Enzo Maresca took in starting his playmaker despite an ongoing groin issue.
Palmer has struggled with the problem since the summer, missing international duty earlier this month, but returned to score against Brentford before featuring against Bayern Munich. Still, Maresca admitted the midfielder was never at full fitness for Saturday’s clash.
“He tried this morning with a test,” the Chelsea boss revealed. “He wanted to help the team, but he wasn’t 100 per cent. After 20 minutes he felt something, so we had to change.”
Palmer’s commitment will not be questioned, but the decision to start him may. With Chelsea’s attack already under scrutiny, losing their most influential player once again could prove a costly blow in both results and momentum.
