Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer for significantly longer than initially expected. His coach admits to an error in judgment.
The English Club World Champion Chelsea will have to manage without midfielder Cole Palmer for at least another six weeks. Coach Enzo Maresca announced this on Friday, one day before the Blues’ Premier League match at Nottingham Forest.
The English national player Palmer (23), who has been absent for about a month due to major problems, was originally expected to return after the now-concluded international break.
“I was mistaken,” said Maresca, who will himself be absent from the struggling Nottingham due to a suspension: “We hope that six weeks will be enough to resolve the problem. But we have to monitor this step by step, week by week.”
The Italian assumes that at least surgery will not be necessary for Palmer, “one of the best players in the Premier League.”
Palmer was injured on September 20 during the 1-2 defeat in the league match at Manchester United and was substituted in the middle of the first half. In addition to the Englishman, the in-form defender Benoit Badiashile will also be absent from seventh-placed Chelsea for the time being, according to Maresca “until December.”