By KIERAN GILL, MAIL SPORT REPORTER
Published: 05:57 EST, 24 December 2025 | Updated: 05:57 EST, 24 December 2025
Enzo Maresca says he would not swap Morgan Rogers for Cole Palmer, who is now ready to play his first full 90 minutes in more than three months when Aston Villa visit this Saturday.
Both Rogers and Palmer share the same 'cold' celebration and Chelsea will be looking to end Villa's superb 10-game winning streak when they turn up at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca will be allowing his players to have a rare Christmas day off from training before they return on Boxing Day to prepare for Villa the next evening, and he was asked by Sky Sports whether he would have the in-form Rogers over Palmer.
'No,' Maresca said. 'Because I love Cole, and Cole is my player. He is ready for 90 minutes. The progression for a player is 45 (minutes), 60, 70. The progression is there.'
Palmer has not completed a full 90 since away at Bayern Munich in the Champions League in September.
On whether it would be too simplistic to say Chelsea versus Villa could come down to which one brings his A-game out of Rogers and Palmer, Maresca said: 'No, they are two fantastic players.
Cole Palmer is ready to complete his first full 90 minutes in three months when Chelsea face Aston Villa on Saturday
Enzo Maresca says he would not swap Palmer for Villa star Morgan Rogers
'For sure, they are going to be important during the game. But I think both players, they need the other 10 around them to support them and to help them to do the right things. For sure, it's about Morgan, it's about Cole, but it's also about the teams.'
Chelsea this week made an enquiry on Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, only to then withdraw from the race while it is understood the winger is favouring a move to Manchester City instead.
Maresca said: 'I'm focused on Aston Villa. I'm not focused on players that can arrive or leave.'
Maresca will need to serve a one-match touchline suspension for the Villa game after accumulating too many yellow cards, meaning he is likely to sit in the press box as he has done before. He does not think it will impact his ability to help the team too much, however.
'No, no, no,' he said when asked if it limits him hugely. 'In almost 100 games. I've been suspended three times, one for a celebration and two times for yellow cards. Willy (Caballero) will be there (on the touchline), Danny (Walker) will be there, the coaching staff will be there.'
Meanwhile, Estevao Willian and Liam Delap will both be available to face Villa after returning from their respective injuries.