Chelsea legend John Terry is excited about the possibility of Cole Palmer returning to full fitness before the big game against Arsenal. The former Blues captain believes the midfielder’s availability is a big boost for Enzo Maresca’s team as they prepare to host the league leaders at Stamford Bridge today, Sunday.
There was a lot of doubt about the England international’s status after he broke his toe. Earlier reports and comments from the manager suggested a return might be delayed until the game against Leeds United, and some pundits thought it might take much longer, but things have improved very quickly.
The press conference on Friday gave a good update: the attacker is well enough to be in the squad for the London derby.
Terry revealed on social media that he was happy and relieved about the news, and said it would help the team’s mental state. The former Chelsea captain discussed the importance of carefully managing the player’s minutes when he returns:
“Cole Palmer is back and it’s a massive boost for the football club to have such a top player back involved, but also more importantly for him to get 20/30 minutes in his legs, ready for the rest of the season.”
Even though everyone is excited, Palmer is likely to come off the bench rather than start. Terry says that the club wants to make sure he stays healthy for the rest of the season by not rushing him back too soon and making the injury worse.
This careful approach comes after former professional Stan Collymore expressed concern that the injury could keep the playmaker out until March, which thankfully did not happen.
Chelsea want to secure three points against Arsenal
Chelsea would make a big statement by getting three points against Arsenal as they try to stay near the top of the table. A win against the current league leaders would not only narrow the gap at the top but also show that Enzo Maresca’s tactics have improved this season.
The Blues are feeling more confident going into this game after their strong showing against Barcelona in European competition. That performance showed that Chelsea can compete with the best teams in Europe and gave them an idea of how to approach the tactical battle against the Gunners.
Maresca has admitted how big the job is, pointing out how good Arsenal are at every position on the field. The Chelsea manager has stressed that his team needs to be clinically efficient and strong defensively if they want to stop their London rivals’ momentum and secure a crucial win at Stamford Bridge.