Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca has acknowledged that his team relies too heavily on Cole Palmer, urging other players to step up as the midfielder struggles for form.
Palmer, who has been Chelsea’s key player this season with 14 Premier League goals and six assists, has not scored since mid-January and last assisted a goal in December.
Chelsea, once title contenders in December, have slipped to seventh place after losing three of their last four matches. They are now just a point behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
Despite Palmer’s dip, Maresca remains calm ahead of their game against bottom-placed Southampton on Tuesday.
“I’m not worried about Cole,” Maresca told reporters on Monday. “He’s human, and it’s normal to have ups and downs. The problem is that we rely on him for everything, but football is a team game. While we need top players like Cole, we must depend on the whole squad.”
The Italian manager, in his first season at Stamford Bridge, admitted that Palmer’s struggles reflect the team’s overall performance.
“We expect him to score or assist in every game, but that’s not realistic. Right now, we’re struggling to convert chances, and we must be more clinical.”
Maresca remains positive about Chelsea’s Champions League hopes, believing that one win could spark a turnaround.
“Even against Aston Villa (a 2-1 defeat on Saturday), our style of play was there. If we win one game, we can build momentum again. That’s what the players need right now.”
