Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has insisted that even star player Cole Palmer is not immune from being dropped as he continues to emphasise the importance of squad rotation during the festive period.
Palmer has been one of the standout performers for Chelsea since his summer move from Manchester City.
The attacking midfielder has racked up 50 goal contributions in just 50 Premier League games, playing a crucial role in the Blues’ rise up the league standings this season.
After a dream debut season at Stamford Bridge, Cole Palmer has faced more attention from opposition teams this term, with many doubling up on him to limit his impact.
Maresca believes it’s now Palmer’s responsibility to adapt to these increased challenges. The former Leicester City manager said: “He still has to improve things in those moments.
“Especially because if you get frustrated, you lose your focus on the game. For sure, game after game, he’s going to understand more about when they mark him man-to-man, how to move.
“We already protected him in the Conference League which is why he was not in the squad. That is why he always starts in the Premier League.
“[Wesley] Fofana was always starting in the Premier League because he didn’t play in the Conference and [Romeo] Lavia is the same. But this does not mean they are always going to play.”
He added: “We are ahead of our expectation in terms of the way we are playing and points. For us, the main focus is to see how we can improve the players and how we can improve the team.
“It’s the reality for me, not about the pressure (of going for the title). I would like that kind of pressure.
“I say we are not there because that is the reality for me.
“The main point is to continue to improve and to win games.”
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