Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has got off to a great start to life in the Premier League, however former Blue Florent Malouda has issued the boss a warning regarding arguably his best player.
Maresca is the first manager to last more than a season since Todd Boehly and co have been running the club, outlasting the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel.
Despite earning his place with two trophies and a return to Champions League football, Maresca was unhappy at Chelsea following the summer transfer window.
One area where many have been impressed with the Italian is his record with injured players, in particular having Reece James regularly available in 2025 after years of fitness woes.
The Blues are facing more injury problems at the start of this season, with Cole Palmer being absent for two of their first three games of the campaign.
Enzo Maresca looks on during Chelsea v Fulham - Premier League
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Florent Malouda issues Enzo Maresca a Cole Palmer warning
Palmer’s scan did not return negative results, but it still remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough to take part in the next game against Brentford, as well as their beginning in the Champions League against Bayern Munich.
While the boss will be looking to play it safe, Malouda told Simon Phillips’ Substack that he needs to ensure his best player is still taking part, even if he is not at 100% fitness-wise.
He said: “Enzo Maresca needs to be very careful with Cole Palmer and I think he is careful with the way he manages him, but you must play your best players. Obviously, Cole Palmer is young, but in the manager’s position, you want results.
MORE CHELSEA STORIES
“It’s not like you have time and you can spare a few games here and there. You need to have your best players, and sometimes your best players are not in their best physical form, but they still have an impact on the team. So he manages him well.
“I think he will try to give him some rest. There’s a World Cup coming, but the priority is to perform for the club.”
Florent Malouda conducts the draw during UEFA Champions League 2020/21 Group Stage Draw
Photo by Harold Cunningham – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Chelsea doing okay without Palmer
In the two games since Palmer has been absent from the starting side, the Blues have returned to winning ways in the Premier League.
Two comfortable wins against West Ham and Fulham have maintained Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the campaign, with a number of individuals stepping up in the England international’s absence.
Joao Pedro has maintained his goalscoring highs from the summer, while Estevao Willian has proven to be a shining light despite being just 18 years of age.