Cole Palmer is set to undergo a scan following the injury he sustained during Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United, with the club optimistic that he avoided any serious damage.
Head coach Enzo Maresca criticised Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez, arguing that the Argentine should have been sent off for his late lunge on Palmer during the heated clash at Old Trafford.
Martínez’s reckless challenge left visible stud marks on Palmer’s left knee, and the 22-year-old reportedly left the stadium limping, with soreness that persisted throughout his journey back to London.
Despite the dangerous nature of the tackle, referee Jones only issued a yellow card. VAR official Michael Salisbury reviewed the incident but did not recommend upgrading the booking to a red card.
The Premier League confirmed that it supports Jones’ decision, stating that the yellow card was deemed an appropriate sanction for the challenge.
The statement read: “The referee issued a yellow card to Martinez for a challenge on Palmer.
“VAR checked for a potential red card and confirmed the referee’s call of no red card, deeming that it was a reckless challenge.”
Chelsea’s initial assessment suggested that Palmer’s injury was not severe and might not keep him out of their upcoming Premier League match against Arsenal.
However, the club is expected to conduct a scan to confirm the extent of the injury and ensure no significant damage was sustained.
Palmer was not included in Chelsea’s Europa Conference League squad for Thursday’s match against Armenian side Noah, allowing him extra time to recover ahead of Sunday’s crucial fixture against Arsenal.
Chelsea coaches believe United’s strategy focused on neutralizing Cole Palmer, and the forward could face similar close marking from Arsenal’s defence.
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