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Enzo Maresca explained that Cole Palmer was taken off in Chelsea’s 2-1 loss with a groin issue.
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He admitted starting the midfielder was a risk despite his fitness concerns.
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The decision became unavoidable after Robert Sanchez’s red card left the team short.
Enzo Maresca offered a straightforward explanation after Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford, revealing why Cole Palmer was withdrawn after just 20 minutes.
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Maresca told reporters that Palmer wasn’t fully fit before kick-off and that the decision to start him was a conscious risk.
With the Blues a man down after Robert Sanchez’s red card, the England midfielder was taken off to protect both the player and the team’s shape.
“It’s a problem that is already a long time for him, he’s groin again,” – Maresca said.
“He did, this morning, a test. He wants to play this game for the team to be close, so the effort has been huge from him. But then after 20 minutes he started to feel something, so we decided to change him.” – He added.
The former Leicester City manager admitted the call to play Palmer was a gamble.
He stressed that Palmer pushed himself to help the side, and that the staff acted quickly when discomfort re-emerged.
Palmer walked down the tunnel after being substituted, but returned before half-time with an ice pack at the top of his thigh.
https://dailypost.ng/2025/09/21/epl-why-i-substituted-cole-palmer-in-2-1-defeat-to-man-utd-maresca/
Chelsea’s medical team were treating the issue immediately.
The match at Old Trafford left Chelsea short-handed and unable to recover the deficit.
Maresca’s explanation shows the difficult balance clubs must strike between immediate needs and player welfare.
The challenges coaches face when important players are carrying knocks are reflected in Enzo Maresca’s choice.
