Enzo Maresca confirms major Chelsea injury blow | OneFootball

Maresca Stands Firm On Palmer Injury Plan

Cole Palmer’s absence has cast a long shadow over Chelsea’s forward line, yet Enzo Maresca refuses to deviate from his medical stance. Despite calls for surgical intervention, the head coach remains unwavering, stressing that time and treatment remain the preferred pathway.

Surgery Off The Table For Palmer

Asked directly if Palmer might yet require an operation on his persistent groin issue, Maresca was clear. “Yes, absolutely. We try just to protect Cole as much as we can and the most important thing is that.” His conviction has not shifted, even as the setback deepens.

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The Chelsea playmaker is now expected to be sidelined until December, extending a frustrating spell that began during a shortened pre-season following the Club World Cup. Maresca acknowledged he “was wrong” after previously stating Palmer would return following the October international break.

Extended Absence Complicates Season Plans

The revised recovery timeline means Palmer could miss up to ten more fixtures across domestic and European competition. The Premier League meeting with Arsenal on November 30 is now pencilled in as a hopeful return date rather than a guarantee.

Internationally, the situation is equally complex. Palmer will miss a third straight England camp, leaving only the March internationals to convince Thomas Tuchel he deserves a place in the 26-man World Cup squad. So far under Tuchel, his involvement has been limited to 65 minutes in the narrow 1-0 win over Andorra back in June.

Chelsea Staff Urged Patience

While supporters grow impatient, Maresca called for realism. “Unfortunately, the medical staff, they are not magicians,” he said. “They never know that you probably need six weeks.” The uncertainty surrounding recovery timelines has forced Chelsea into a week-by-week approach.

“We hope that six weeks are enough, but it’s a problem that we need to see step by step, week after week. But for sure he’s going to be okay,” Maresca added. Encouragingly, the Italian insisted Palmer remains upbeat. “He looks very good, to be honest. He looks relaxed. He’s trying to recover from the injury. He’s doing all the therapy that he needs to do, so he looks good.”

Palmer’s Importance Highlighted By His Absence

Palmer’s influence has grown rapidly since his arrival at Stamford Bridge and his absence has underlined just how pivotal he has become under Maresca. Without him, Chelsea’s attack has lacked invention and final-third efficiency.

The longer he remains out, the more scrutiny will fall on Maresca’s refusal to opt for surgery. For now, the manager is betting on patience over procedure. If Palmer returns firing in December, that decision will be vindicated. If setbacks continue, pressure will intensify.