Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has revealed fresh hope that Cole Palmer could make a sensational return for the club’s Champions League clash with Barcelona later this month.
The 23-year-old playmaker has been sidelined for nearly two months with a groin injury but is edging closer to full fitness. While he has not yet returned to team training, the signs are positive that he could be back in time for the showdown against Barca on November 25 – and the blockbuster Premier League meeting with Arsenal just five days later.
Maresca was speaking ahead of Chelsea’s long trip to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag, where his side will stick to English time to manage the travel demands. The Italian made it clear just how much he wants his star man back.
“We hope so,” Maresca said when asked if Palmer could face Barcelona. “We tried to plan and schedule his recovery at the start but now we take it day by day. He’s not training with the group yet. I would love to have Cole here tomorrow. We are a better team with him, no doubt. Unfortunately he’s still out but we want him back as soon as possible.”
Chelsea have coped impressively in Palmer’s absence, winning seven of their nine matches since he went down injured. The team have found rhythm under Maresca and are fighting to keep their Champions League hopes alive after an opening defeat to Bayern Munich was followed by back-to-back wins over Benfica and Ajax.
Maresca’s men can make it three wins in a row in Europe with victory over Qarabag, though the coach confirmed that winger Pedro Neto has not travelled due to a minor issue picked up in training. His absence could hand teenage sensation Estevao Willian another chance to impress on the right flank.
“It’s an important game because it can give us three wins in a row in the Champions League,” Maresca said. “We need to rotate some players because it’s a tight schedule. We get back to London early Thursday and then play again on Saturday. It’s demanding but we’ll adapt.”
Chelsea are also managing the fitness of key men Reece James and Romeo Lavia carefully. James is finally back to full fitness, while Lavia is still being eased into action after a long spell out.
“Reece is fit, one hundred per cent,” Maresca confirmed. “He can now play three games in a week. Romeo is where Reece was about a year ago. We have to manage him carefully, every minute and every session.”
For now, all eyes are on Palmer’s comeback and the chance to give Chelsea a huge lift just as the season’s biggest tests arrive.