Enzo Maresca admits that Chelsea has a Cole Palmer problem.
But the blues -boss says he is not worried about Palmer's happiness After a series of two wins in 10 games, has put their Champions League heap in Jeopardy -he just tries to find a solution to get their season back on track .
“First of all we have to see how we are ready,” says the Chelsea Chief. “And in case we don't finish the top four, we will see if Cole is happy or not happy.
“I don't think Cole is currently worried about next year that he wants to play in the Champions League. Cole is simply focused on how he can help the team, how we can help him and how all together, we can bring this club where this club should be. “
England star Palmer did not score or helped in six games and clearly struggles for form. During the weekend he had little influence on the procedure in the 2-1 loss for Aston Villa.
But Maresca insists that it has nothing to do with persistent fitness problems, where the entire team was tested during a special fitness training last week during a special fitness training – and Palmer came up as the strongest player of the team.
And he insists that the solution to get Palmer back between the goals – whether it scores or creates – should not come from Chelsea's no. 20, but from the whole team.
The Italian says: “If things don't go well for him, he trains even harder. Absolute. I think that's great. I will tell you a detail that is very important. We do a physical test every six or seven months.
“We did it in the preseason. We did it last week. And he was, of all the team, the strongest, the one who won the test '. And it was a physical test. That shows that his desire is not alone on the ball. He works hard. He shows his desire. He is doing fantastic.
“But because everyone trusts on Cole, people in Cole always see the solution. But the solution must be the team. '
And Maresca says that on Tuesday evening he is not going to let the playmaker rest against the bottom of the Southampton table. Asked about giving Palmer a midweek rest, he said: “No to be honest. He is always someone who can do something else. Top players can do that.
“In terms of the figures, of goals and assists, it is a moment when he is struggling. But he comes in the right positions. I am not worried about Cole, because he is a human and he will have a few moments when he is struggling.
“The problem is that we trust everything for Cole and I said from the start that we should trust the team.”
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