In a recent press conference, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed unwavering confidence in Cole Palmer despite the player's noticeable dip in form. The 22-year-old forward has not found the back of the net in his last six matches and has failed to register an assist in his past 13 appearances. However, Maresca emphasized that he is not worried about Palmer's current struggles, attributing them to natural fluctuations in performance that occur over the course of a season. Despite this downturn, Palmer had an outstanding 2024, scoring 26 goals and providing 13 assists, setting a new Chelsea record and leading the Premier League in both categories for the calendar year.

Maresca addressed concerns regarding Palmer's performance ahead of Chelsea's upcoming match against Southampton at Stamford Bridge. He reassured reporters that while he monitors overall team performance closely, he does not view Palmer's recent challenges as a significant issue. "Cole is just frustrated that we are not winning games," Maresca explained. "It is nothing more than that." The manager also highlighted Palmer's missed opportunities in previous matches, notably against Manchester City and Aston Villa, but stressed that these moments do not indicate any deeper problems with the player.

Maresca acknowledged that the team has become overly reliant on Palmer to deliver results, which adds pressure to the young forward. "The problem with Cole is we rely on him for everything," Maresca admitted. "I have said since the start that we need to rely on the team for everything. For sure, there are top players like Cole, but we are not worried about him at all." This statement reflects the manager's belief in the collective strength of the team rather than placing undue emphasis on individual performances.

Beyond discussing Palmer, Maresca also provided updates on other key players. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen will start in Tuesday's match despite making a costly error during the game against Aston Villa, where Marco Asencio scored the winning goal. Meanwhile, defender Trevoh Chalobah is expected to be sidelined for one to two weeks due to injury.

Maresca's comments underscore a broader strategy focused on team cohesion and resilience. By emphasizing the importance of collective effort, the manager aims to alleviate the pressure on individual players like Palmer and foster a more balanced approach to achieving success on the pitch. This philosophy is crucial as Chelsea looks to regain momentum and improve its standing in the Premier League.