Rosenior’s Cole Palmer answer gives a huge clue about attacker this weekend | OneFootball

Liam Rosenior was well deserving of a smug press conference after Chelsea won an important away win in Naples. He was asked about Cole Palmer’s second half appearance, and whether that was a pre-planned change as the attacker comes back from injury.

Palmer grabbed two crucial assists after his introduction at the break, and finally looked to be getting back to his best.

Rosenior answers Palmer questions after Napoli win

Joao Pedro celebrates with Chelsea players. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“I think it’s a combination of both. There’s no way Cole could have started this game and played 60/70 minutes,” the manager explained.

“I thought later in the game we would be stronger. I thought Cole was magnificent. We need to look after him. The way he’s managed himself in the last two weeks has been magnificent. He’s a world-class player. There’s been a lot of talk about Cole – he was a very, very happy man in the changing room after the game.”

By the sounds of things, Palmer could be fit to face West Ham from the start this weekend, and could do an hour then too. But we expect that Rosenior will use the same tactic again – keeping his trump card on the bench and waiting to see if he’s needed later in the game.

In other news…

Rosenior praised his subs in speaking to TNT Sport, pointing out it was them who had made the difference as his team had to turn a 2-1 deficit around.

A superb finish from Joao Pedro put the Blues ahead for a second time late on and gave them the goal that eventually won them the game and put them into the Champions League top 8. This has been some week for the Brazilian, who has earned his place as the team’s top striker now.