Chelsea manager remains hopeful of having key superstar available for Barcelona clash | OneFootball

Having lost the season’s El Clasico to Real Madrid, the pressure is on Hansi Flick to deliver, especially against top teams.

Barcelona’s next big game is against Chelsea on November 25, in what could prove to be a litmus test for Flick, having already lost to Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the season.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Chelsea will be missing out on Cole Palmer due to injury, in what was a massive boost for Barcelona.

Maresco not losing hope on Palmer

However, according to Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is not yet ruling out his star player for the crucial Champions League match.

Speaking to the press on Friday ahead of his team’s Premier League clash against Tottenham, Maresca gave an update on the 23-year-old’s fitness.

Maresca is not ruling out Palmer’s availability. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Maresca shared a joke he had with his star player about the frustrating recovery process: “I ran into him in the dining room having breakfast, and I told him, ‘In a week I’ll tell you you’re back.’ He laughed.”

Palmer has been sidelined since September 20, when he was substituted just 21 minutes into a match against Manchester United with a groin injury.

The England international, who first experienced the problem during preseason, was initially expected to return after the October international break.

However, he suffered a relapse, and Chelsea later announced he would not be back until November, placing his participation against Barcelona in serious doubt.

While Maresca’s laugh indicates Palmer is not close to a return, he refused to rule him out for the end of the month. “Now with Cole, it’s the same plan. Wait and, hopefully, he’ll be back soon,” he added.