Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca offered support for out-of-sorts talisman Cole Palmer and the attacker’s poor run of form continued against Premier League strugglers Southampton despite the Blues’ comfortable 4-0 win on Tuesday night.
Palmer proved to be a fantastic acquisition for Chelsea after joining from boyhood club Manchester City in the summer of 2023. Last season, he racked up an impressive 33 goal involvement tally despite playing in a struggling Chelsea side.
However, the England international has struggled to have a similar impact for the Blues this campaign. The win against relegation bound Southampton was his seventh consecutive Premier League game without any goal contribution.
Despite Palmer’s below-par display, Maresca’s men were too much to handle at Stamford Bridge as they put four beyond the Saints courtesy of goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella.
Speaking about Palmer’s rough patch to TNT Sports after the game, the Italian manager supported his star man, stating that a moment like this is normal in the career of any footballer.
“We are all former players. All of us went through some bad moments,” Maresca said.
“You cannot expect Palmer to be like he was last season, or how he was in the first part of the season.
“It’s normal. He is human. I was telling him it was normal. He is happy. He is okay.
“He has shared the changing room with some top players and he knows that every top player goes through bad moments.
“It’s about how you react. Keep working, keep laughing, keep calm, be happy and enjoy the football. It’s the only thing you have to do.”
With Chelsea set to sit out this weekend’s FA Cup action and Palmer unlikely to feature in the Conference League, the 22-year-old star may have to wait till the Blues host Leicester City in the PL on Sunday, March 9 to end his goal drought.
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
