Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca Provides Updates on Cole Palmer’s Injury Status

omidbasir- Following a toe fracture on his left foot last Wednesday, Chelsea’s head coach Enzo Maresca addressed the situation concerning Cole Palmer during a recent press conference.

Maresca stated, “He is probably not available for Saturday for sure, against Barcelona for sure, and Arsenal for sure. Unfortunately, he had an accident at home where he hit his toe. It is nothing serious, but he will not be back in the next week. I often wake up many times during the night – I hit my head, my legs, everything – so such accidents can happen.”

Ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League match against Barcelona on Tuesday, Maresca provided a more optimistic update regarding Palmer’s condition. “Yes, Cole is currently wearing a protective boot. We don’t have a definitive return date, but it will be soon. He’s already on the pitch, touching the ball, and he feels good,” he remarked. “At the moment, our focus is solely on tomorrow’s game against Barcelona, and then we will look ahead to Arsenal. I don’t think he will be available for these two matches, but he is progressing well.”

While many sympathized with Palmer for this unfortunate setback, Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella suggested that this injury might have been avoidable. He told reporters, “To be fair, I don’t believe it. These incidents can happen, and I have dealt with similar situations before, but I am stronger than them, so I do not feel any impact. It’s unfortunate for us because he was getting closer to training and playing with us, and now he needs to take a step back. But this is part of life for footballers; we have personal lives and face these kinds of issues, so we hope he recovers quickly.”

When questioned about the circumstances of Palmer’s injury, Cucurella added humorously, “I don’t know. He’s running around because I think he lost a FIFA game or something like that!”

This year has proven challenging for Palmer, who, after enjoying a successful stint at Chelsea following his transfer from Manchester City, has faced a series of injuries. Despite a strong start to his Chelsea career, he has struggled this season with a persistent groin issue, limiting him to just four appearances across all competitions.

Back in late September, Maresca emphasized the importance of managing Palmer’s health: “We need to protect Cole, absolutely. Not just him, but other players as well. With the Club World Cup and the demanding schedule, we need to manage player health carefully. The nature of injuries like his is not straightforward; some days are better, and others worse. That is why we need to approach his recovery on a day-by-day basis.”

In his brief appearances, Palmer scored two goals in over 230 minutes of play, and his absence is keenly felt by the team. Chelsea fans are eager for his swift return.

After a shaky start to the season, the FIFA Club World Cup champions have bounced back with three consecutive wins, rising to second place in the Premier League. This week presents a potentially pivotal moment for the team as they face Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, followed by a match against league leaders Arsenal on Sunday. Securing victories in both matches could significantly boost the players’ confidence, whereas a poor outcome could lead to a much bleaker perspective on the season.