Chelsea star ruled out for Champions League clash with Benfica | OneFootball

Chelsea will be understrength against Benfica in the Champions League, with the confirmed absence of Cole Palmer, one of the most influential players in the London side’s attack. The England international suffered a groin injury in the match against Manchester United, which forced him to leave the field prematurely.

Medical tests confirmed the seriousness of the issue, with an estimated recovery period of three to six weeks. This setback rules him out of the European clash with Benfica, a significant blow for Enzo Maresca. Palmer had been one of the team’s standout performers this season, thanks to his decision-making ability in the final third.

For Benfica, managed by José Mourinho, Cole Palmer’s unavailability comes as good news, since the Eagles will face a Chelsea side missing one of its main attacking threats. The coach confirmed this Friday that the player will be absent from the English squad.

“We decided to protect Cole Palmer, in order to prevent the situation from getting worse. We chose to let him rest for the next two to three weeks, until the international break, to see if with that rest he can recover 100 percent. I don’t think he needs surgery. It’s just a matter of managing the groin pain,” concluded the Italian coach.

It’s worth remembering that Benfica will play the second matchday of the Champions League group stage next Tuesday, September 30. The Eagles will travel to Stamford Bridge in London to face Chelsea, with the match scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Portuguese time.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.