Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has encouraged Cole Palmer to keep doing what he’s been doing to break his recent goal drought.
The talented midfielder has gone five Premier League matches without scoring and is also on a 13-match streak without an assist, a reflection of Chelsea’s broader struggles across all competitions.
Palmer missed a key opportunity in the 2-1 loss to Aston Villa over the weekend, but despite his recent lack of form, Maresca reassured that he is not concerned about the England international.
“I’m always focused on the overall performance, but I’m not worried about Cole,” Maresca said in a press conference. “He’s a human being, and during a season, there can be moments when he faces a bit of a struggle.”
“The issue with Cole is probably that we depend on him too much. As I’ve said from the start, we need to rely on the entire team. Of course, we need top players like Cole, but we’re not worried about him at all.”
When asked how he would help Palmer regain his best form, Maresca suggested the 22-year-old doesn’t need to change his approach.
“Just keep working the way he’s been working,” Maresca advised Palmer. “Yes, he missed a great chance the other day, but overall, his performances have been good. We expect goals and assists from him every game, and that can be difficult.”
“He’s a human being. Right now, his performances likely reflect the team’s struggles as we need to be more clinical when we get opportunities.”
