Chelsea: cold snap for Cole Palmer! (official) | OneFootball

Chelsea: Cole Palmer sidelined! (OFFICIAL)

Chelsea: cold snap for Cole Palmer! (official)

Setback for Cole Palmer. Sidelined with a groin injury and a recurrence in his adductors, the 23-year-old playmaker will be out for two to three weeks. Enzo Maresca confirmed the decision this Friday, opting for short-term caution to avoid making things worse. "We've decided to protect Cole so that his injury doesn't get any worse. So we'll rest him for the next two or three weeks, probably until the international break," the Italian manager explained. At Stamford Bridge, no one has forgotten that, in just a year, the former Manchester City man has become the team's primary source of creativity and goals. But recurring muscular warnings since the start of the season have demanded careful management of his workload. Substituted in the 21st minute against Manchester United during last weekend's 2-1 defeat, Palmer had already shown signs of discomfort. The medical staff is therefore sticking to a classic protocol: complete rest, targeted treatment, gradual reconditioning, and a controlled return before any group reintegration. In the immediate term, Chelsea must rebalance their attacking play without their key man between the lines, relying more on width and varied runs to compensate for the absence of their inverted winger.

This rest period also rules Palmer out of the October international call-up. The Three Lions will face Wales on October 9 in a friendly, then Latvia five days later as part of 2026 World Cup qualifying. Maresca took responsibility for the decision, justifying it with a long-term vision: "We decided to protect Cole a bit, to prevent his injury from getting worse… we're going to rest him until the break to see if he can recover 100%." On the pitch, the Londoner's absence reshuffles Chelsea's attacking balance. His influence—evident both in his touches in the right half-space and in the quality of his final passes and hold-up play—is simply irreplaceable. After the international window, the goal is clear: to get Palmer back fully fit, capable of reigniting his trademark quick burst, close control, and sharpness in the final third. There's no doubting his place in the pecking order; but to safeguard their season, Chelsea are opting for enlightened patience over a race against time. The coming weeks will reveal whether this carefully managed break allows the player to break free from the cycle of relapses and truly rediscover his impact.