Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has clarified why star midfielder Cole Palmer was absent from the Blues’ emphatic 5-1 victory over West Ham United on Friday night.
Palmer, who has been central to Chelsea’s attacking play, was left out of the starting lineup after complaining of discomfort during the warm-up. His place was taken by 18-year-old Brazilian talent, Estevao Willian, who made his Premier League debut at the London Stadium.
Speaking after the game, Maresca confirmed that Palmer had been struggling in the build-up to the fixture.
“Cole, in the last four or five days, was not at 100 per cent,” the Chelsea boss said. “During the warm-up he felt something in his groin, so we decided not to take any risks. We’ll assess him in the coming hours to know the extent of it.”
Despite Palmer’s absence, Chelsea recovered from an early setback—when Lucas Paquetá’s stunning strike put West Ham ahead—to secure their first win of the new Premier League season.
Goals from Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernández, Moises Caicedo, and Trevoh Chalobah sealed a dominant victory for the Blues, easing pressure after a slow start to the campaign.
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