Cole Palmer’s late return from the Euros and his subsequent holiday has meant that one of the biggest questions about Chelsea’s preseason is remaining unanswered: how does new manager Enzo Maresca plan to use his star player.
Apart from a short cameo against Inter Milan last week, we’ve not seen the two operating together. Those minutes should be enough to ensure that Palmer starts today however, and we’re very excited to see what he produces.
Speaking on the club’s official website, Palmer explained he was excited to see what his new coach might have planned for him:
“We’ve got an amazing coach, so it’s important to listen to the coach. He will only help me get better and improve my game. So if I listen to him and work hard, I don’t see why this season can’t be even better” the boy wonder said.
Of course, the two also know each other from working together in Man City’s youth academy for years:
“I’ve only been with him about a week or two here after the Euros, but I knew him from City. He was my manager in the Under-21s at City, where we won the league together. Then he was Pep’s assistant and now he’s here.
“He’s a great guy as well. You can speak to him, you can ask him whatever. I think that helps you on the pitch massively.”
Positional questions
The first thing to wonder is where Palmer gets used – as a right sided attacker, leaving space for Christopher Nkunku in the middle? Or playing as one of the midfielders? Who is left out to accommodate him? We will find out all the answers in just a couple of hours when the team sheet for our season opening game against Man City is released.
