Chelsea’s Palmer Missing Again Due to Injury Amid Successful Match Against Crystal Palace

Cole Palmer has faced a challenging season with Chelsea, suffering from injuries that have restricted him to just 10 Premier League starts thus far. The England international missed the recent midweek Champions League victory over Pafos due to a minor injury but was anticipated to return for the match against Crystal Palace. However, he was once again absent as Chelsea triumphed 3-1, moving ahead of Liverpool and securing fourth place in the Premier League.

In a statement to Sky Sports, Chelsea’s coach, Rosenior, explained Palmer’s absence: “Unfortunately for us, Cole’s not quite right for this one. I’ve mentioned in previous press conferences that we want to ensure every player is at 100 percent. There’s no benefit in risking players in January for our goals. He has a minor thigh issue and is not at full fitness, but we are hopeful he can participate on Wednesday.”

Despite Palmer’s absence, Chelsea delivered a solid performance, with goals from Estevao Willian, Joao Pedro, and Enzo Fernandez securing the win. Pedro expressed his satisfaction with the result, saying: “We knew this would be a tough game as they have a strong team. We focused on winning second balls and maintaining our fight throughout the match. We scored three goals, conceded one, but secured the three points. In the first half, we could have been more dominant with the ball; we didn’t control the game as we should have, but at halftime, the manager encouraged us to keep the intensity high. Once we scored the second goal, we could breathe a bit easier.”

Rosenior was also questioned about Palmer’s future at Chelsea amidst rumors of homesickness for Manchester. Speculation suggests that Palmer might consider a return to former club Manchester City if Pep Guardiola departs this summer. Palmer left City for Chelsea in 2023 seeking more consistent playing time but reportedly feels unsettled in the capital and misses his friends in Manchester.

Rosenior reassured fans, stating, “I’ve had numerous conversations with Cole, and he appears to be, and is, very happy to be here. He is a vital part of our long-term plans, and an outstanding player. All players experience challenging moments due to injuries, but that does not reflect on his talent.”

The victory over Crystal Palace marks the fourth win in five matches for Rosenior since he took over Chelsea following Enzo Maresca’s departure. He expressed his delight at the team’s performance against a formidable Palace side: “I’m very pleased. This is always a difficult venue. Crystal Palace is an excellent team, and the players delivered an outstanding performance. It’s disappointing not to have secured a clean sheet in the final moments—I aimed for three in a row, and we should have achieved it while leading 3-0 against ten men. However, there was much to commend. I thought we defended well from the front, were organized, and demonstrated clinical finishing. All credit goes to the lads. We can improve our ball control, especially in the first half, but overall, it was a commendable team performance.”

Looking ahead, Rosenior hopes Palmer will be fit for their next Champions League match against Napoli on Wednesday. The Blues travel to Italy sitting in eighth place in the Champions League, striving to secure automatic qualification for the knockout stages. Chelsea is among eight teams with 13 points as they enter the final round of league phase fixtures, knowing that a victory against the defending Serie A champions should guarantee their progression.