Cole Palmer was the Chelsea man who spoke to the club’s official website today after a disappointing result against Fulham last night.
After scoring the opening goal, he will have been gutted to see his team lose right at the death. But at this time of year, the next game rolls around quickly, and so does the chance to put things right, as Palmer pointed out:
“It’s a good opportunity to learn, rest, recover, and play in three days. We just keep going now. We knew we weren’t going to win every single game we play. It’s the manager’s first season with us and we’re learning,” the attacker said.
“Everyone has said from the start we’re not a title contender, we’re just playing, winning, getting better as a team, growing, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Palmer’s positive message raises a worrying issue
It’s a nice positive message, and the big picture is right – even two bad results in a row shouldn’t darken the mood of a really positive season overall.
But hearing Palmer talking about “playing in 3 days” us there are major questions about what the lineup will be for that Monday match against Ipswich.
Surely Maresca won’t roll with the same team again – and surely Palmer is first in line for a rest. He’s been quiet in our last two games by his own high standards. We can’t expect him to trot out barely 72 hours from now and play another game, surely?
He, along with the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Pedro Neto, desperately need a break. Not only are these first teamers playing worse as they get more tired, they’re also increasing their risk of injury.
Can you just imagine what a disaster it would be if Palmer hurt himself?
The signs from the Everton game was that the team was tired and rotation was needed. Maresca did n’t do that but he did n’t make any substitutions either – except Nkunku for Jackson !
Also the way we gifted them the second goal was moronic. The Chelsea defenders were virtually departing towards the dressing room and allowed Fulham to score as if the one point was of no significaance.