The England forward went almost four months without scoring before finally breaking his duck in the 3-1 win over champions Liverpool, capping a superb individual display with a penalty in stoppage time.
Maresca’s side know victories in their final two matches, beginning with Manchester United at home tonight, will be enough to secure a top-five finish and a return to Europe’s top competition after a two-year absence, and the Italian has seen enough from Palmer to indicate he is back to his best.
“We have three more games and Cole’s desire in these three games is to be an important player,” he said. “Probably you judge an important player [in terms of] whether he is able to score or assist, but against Liverpool his performance was top in all aspects, in terms of sacrifice, desire, helping his teammates.
“We’re happy with that kind of performance from Cole. If he’s able to score and assist, we will be more happy.”
Despite having been assembled at a cost of well over £1billion, most of Maresca’s squad have limited if any Champions League experience.
Of the XI who started Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Newcastle, only Palmer, Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah and Enzo Fernandez have played in the competition.
Fernandez played in the group stage for Benfica in 2022-’23 before moving to Stamford Bridge, while Chalobah and Cucurella were involved in Chelsea’s run to the quarter-final that season.
Palmer made a handful of appearances for Manchester City but did not feature in any of their knockout matches en route to winning the trophy in 2023.
Nevertheless, Maresca believes his squad is ready to make the step up.
“Tactics is important [over the run-in], but it’s also important the other aspect, that players take responsibility and also show desire to bring this club to where it has to be.”
Maresca will be without striker Nicolas Jackson for the final league games following his red card for elbowing Newcastle’s Sven Botman on Sunday.
It leaves a gap in Chelsea’s attack with the club’s only other senior striker, Marc Guiu (19), out injured since February, while Christopher Nkunku, who can also fill in as a number nine, is also out.
Chelsea v Manchester United, 8.15, Sky Sports