Chelsea star Cole Palmer has had an injury-impacted season at Stamford Bridge
Cole Palmer's season has been impacted by injuries as Chelsea chase Champions League qualification.
Cole Palmer's season has been impacted by injuries as Chelsea chase Champions League qualification.(Image: Getty Images)
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Liam Rosenior has admitted that Cole Palmer is receptive to his Chelsea minutes being managed after struggling with injury. The England international has seen his integration back into the first-team managed following groin, thigh and toe issues this season but the Chelsea head coach says the 23-year-old understands the bigger picture.
Palmer managed just 30 minutes in Tuesday's 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final defeat as they crashed out of the competition in a 4-2 aggregate defeat. The playmaker's outings have been sporadic with three 90-minute outings since their 1-1 draw with Manchester City on January 4.
In that period, he has had 45 minutes against Napoli and 75 minutes in the 2-1 defeat to Fulham.
Rosenior courted criticism for their approach to the encounter but he has stood firm and defended the decision to monitor the Chelsea star's workload.
He said: "What we're doing not just with Cole, but all of the players, is doing the right tests. We are making sure these players can play at the level they need to be.
"He's been magnificent, he wants to play every minute of every game, but he's also maturing as a human being and understands the bigger picture. The lads played the Club World Cup and had no break. Then they have World Cups to go to.
"You want all of your players to be 100%, 100% of the time, but that is not going to happen. Frustration isn't the word - I'm trying to get the best out of him and the rest of the team all of the time while taking into account the games coming up.
"It's not about being not able to play him in some games, it's making sure he feels right and contributing to the team the way he wants to."
Chelsea travel to rock-bottom Wolves on Saturday (3pm kick-off) needing to win to keep the pressure on Manchester United and Liverpool in the race for the top four.
The Red Devils currently have a one-point advantage, two over Liverpool, while the defending champions are showing glimpses of a surge in the second-half of the season and avoided a slip-up last time out against Newcastle United, coming from behind to win 4-1.
It's a crucial period coming up for Rosenior and the Blue with clashes against Leeds and Burnley to come in the Premier League with a return to the MKM Stadium for the Chelsea boss wedged in between.
March and the beginning of April pose as a brutal run for Chelsea that may make-or-break their Champions League aspirations. They visit Arsenal at the beginning of March before facing Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Everton next month before welcoming Manchester City on April 11.
Former Arsenal star Paul Merson took aim at Rosenior's tactics following the defeat for Chelsea in midweek, with former forward Kai Havertz scoring the decider.
He said: “They played in second gear. This is the semifinal of the cup, go out in a blaze! This wasn't a League One or League Two team coming to the Emirates to keep the score down, they have got the players to mix it with Arsenal.
"They didn't have a go. There are ways of losing. If they lost this game 3-0, after having shot after shot and Kepa was brilliant in goal, [you say]: 'That's the way it is.’
"As a player, you'd be in the dressing room [thinking]: 'We didn't give it a go.’”