Chelsea have been dealt a significant setback after manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that star midfielder Cole Palmer will be sidelined for at least six more weeks due to a lingering groin injury.
Palmer, 23, has not featured for the Blues since their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on September 20, when he was forced off midway through the first half. Initially, Maresca had expressed optimism that the England international would return shortly after the October international break.
“I was wrong,” the Italian tactician admitted during Friday’s press conference. “Unfortunately, Cole needs to be out probably six more weeks. That’s the latest update.”
Despite the extended layoff, Maresca confirmed that surgery will not be necessary, stressing that the club is prioritizing the midfielder’s full recovery.
“We’re trying to protect Cole as much as we can. The most important thing is that when he comes back, he’s fully recovered,” he said.
When asked whether he was confident the additional rest would resolve the problem, Maresca offered a realistic outlook:
“Unfortunately, the medical staff are not magicians you never know. We hope six weeks will be enough, but we’ll assess him week by week. What’s certain is that he’ll be okay.”
The Chelsea boss acknowledged that replacing Palmer, one of the Premier League’s standout performers this season, presents a major challenge.
“For sure, we need to find a different solution and different skills because we don’t have another player like Cole,” Maresca said. “Cole is unique.”
Chelsea’s injury woes extend beyond Palmer. Defender Benoît Badiashile is also expected to be out until December after sustaining an injury during his fine run of form. “He was doing fantastic and showed how important he is for us. We’ll wait for him,” Maresca added.
However, there was some positive news as Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, and Reece James have returned to full fitness and could feature in Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.
Maresca himself will serve a touchline suspension for the Forest clash following his emotional celebrations during Chelsea’s dramatic late win over Liverpool on October 4.
Explaining his reaction, he said: “It was a mix of emotions we hadn’t won a home game in the final minutes since I joined, and it was against the Premier League champions. It was just passion, a normal human reaction.”
Chelsea will be hoping to maintain their momentum in Palmer’s absence as they continue to balance injuries and competition across multiple fronts.
