Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has defined why he didn’t convey on Cole Palmer throughout Wednesday evening’s defeat to Newcastle United.
The Blues went down 2-0 at St. James’ Park, exiting the EFL Cup and the fourth spherical stage.
Supporters had been understandably dissatisfied in a wasteful Chelsea efficiency the place they outshot Newcastle 17-8 and generated 1.97 xG however failed to attain.
Maresca rotated his beginning line-up, giving alternatives to the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix and Mykhaylo Mudryk.
However regardless of their struggles within the closing third, Noni Madueke was the one substitute Maresca used.
That meant Palmer remained an unused substitute alongside the likes of Marc Guiu and skilled defenders Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill.
Maresca explains why he didn’t use Cole Palmer vs Newcastle
Enzo Maresca determined towards utilizing Cole Palmer towards Newcastle. (Photograph by George Wooden/Getty Pictures)
Many have been left questioning why Maresca didn’t introduce Palmer, who has seven targets and 5 assists to his title in 9 Premier League appearances this season —together with scoring in Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Magpies at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca has responded, insisting the gamers he already had out on the sector had been doing sufficient.
“No, no, no. Just because I feel Joao [Felix] and Christo [Nkunku] had been doing excellent,” Maresca instructed reporters in his post-match press convention (by way of Soccer.London).
“The explanation why [we brought him] was in case we wanted Cole however Joao and Christo had been doing properly so there was no want to vary.”
Now out of the EFL Cup, Chelsea’s consideration returns to the Premier League once they journey to Manchester United on Sunday earlier than internet hosting FC Noah within the Uefa Convention League on Thursday.
Newcastle, in the meantime, have drawn Brentford at house within the EFL Cup quarter-finals as they search to achieve the ultimate for a second time in three years.