Cole Palmer question is Liam Rosenior’s first big conundrum as Chelsea boss | OneFootball

This is a syndicated version of this story, originally featured on the BBC Sport website.

Games twice a week since Liam Rosenior was appointed as Chelsea boss has meant the new coach has had little to no time on the training pitch with his players.

The focus has been on recovering and getting ready for the next game. The time for new tactical concepts and fresh ideas will come later. But that doesn’t mean Rosenior won’t have been giving serious thought to some of the big decisions about where to take this team.

Rosenior trying to find a solution with first lineups

Cole Palmer and Liam Delap celebrate the attacker’s penalty. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

His first Premier League lineup saw him persist with the Enzo Fernandez – Moises Caicedo duo in the middle of the pitch that both Enzo Maresca and Mauricio Pochettino before him have tried to make work. There have been doubts all along from Chelsea fans about whether that will ever be a sturdy enough pair in the Premier League, and the team looked instantly better later in the game against Brentford, when Andrey Santos joined Caicedo in the middle and Enzo was pushed forward.

Given the existing relationship between Rosenior and Santos from their successful time together at Strasbourg, we’ve been predicting this to be the first choice setup since the moment the new manager walked in the door. It’s pretty clear what’s holding him back so far – Cole Palmer.

Playing Enzo further forward means pushing the England star out wide right. Given Palmer is still struggling for sharpness, clearly that’s something Chelsea are reluctant to do. However it’s reaching the point where the England star’s struggles are going to start hurting the team, and he may have to accept a new role until he recovers his best form.

At the moment, after two years of carrying the team, the team are now carrying Palmer. It’s Rosenior’s first big conundrum as the new boss, and all eyes are on how he tries to solve it.