This has not been a good week for Chelsea Football Club.
Down to ten men against league leaders Arsenal, they did at least salvage some pride from that game. To hold one of the best sides in Europe, if not the best side in Europe this season to a 1-1 draw with fewer players is certainly reason to celebrate.
Tosin-Adarabioyo-Chelsea
However, a week on from defeating Barcelona in the Champions League, this midweek was a great deal more frustrating for Enzo Maresca and Co.
A game against Leeds United should have been easy, right? Think again. The Blues lost 3-1 and slipped further behind the Gunners in the race for the title. That dream looks over for another year, but according to Maresca, there is one big reason to remain positive.
Maresca shares good news for Chelsea
Maresca has admitted that Cole Palmer’s return to action at Elland Road was the only positive.
The attacking midfielder has been absent for a large portion of the season but has been back among the matchday squad across the last two games.
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Palmer came off the bench in the 61st minute for his first outing since late September after toes and groin problems and understandably, that was the only consolation Chelsea's Italian gaffer could extract from such a horror night on the road.
Maresca said: "Probably it’s the only good news of the night. I’m happy for him, he’s back, now he needs to build a little bit the physical condition and he will be important for us, for sure.
“He’s getting better, but he needs to play minutes. He had more-or-less half-an-hour, hopefully we can give him more in the next game.”
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Palmer has been a breathtaking signing at Stamford Bridge, notably bagging 18 goals and registering 14 assists in all competitions for his club last season.
Well, Maresca will certainly need his talisman to rediscover that form after dropping points in consecutive fixtures.
Speaking about the result, the former Leicester City manager stated: "When you play the last two games against Barcelona and Arsenal, you expect a better performance, no doubt.
"But, for many reasons, it’s not going to be possible for every game again, because we change players, because we have players that we said many times it’s not possible to play every two, three days. When you change players, also the level drops, that is the reality, because they are important players for us. Moises, Reece (James), with these kind of players, we cannot use them every game. It’s impossible, because otherwise they can get injury again and be out for months."
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca reacts
Chelsea are now fourth in the table after Aston Villa defeated Brighton in midweek. While the Blues looked in something of a title race last week, they are now nine points off top spot.
For the World Champions, you would expect that their hopes now rest on the cup competitions for the rest of the ongoing season.
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