Chelsea fans would have been fearing the worst after Cole Palmer had to withdraw from the team’s starting XI on Friday.
Palmer was set to start in Chelsea‘s game against West Ham United at the London Stadium but had to pull out of the warm-up.
According to Enzo Maresca, Palmer did not feel completely comfortable, so the Italian decided not to take any risks with the attacking midfielder.
In the end, though, Chelsea actually did not need their star man as they ran out 5-1 victors.
Cole Palmer of Chelsea looks on from the substitutes' bench
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Frank Leboeuf thinks Chelsea learnt important Joao Pedro lesson after Cole Palmer injury
With Palmer out of the game, Maresca decided to move Joao Pedro into the No.10 position, where the Brazilian proved to be extremely effective.
On the night, Pedro managed to score one goal and register two assists, helping Chelsea to pick up their first three points of the season.
While Maresca would have wanted Palmer — his best player — on the pitch, Frank Leboeuf thinks Pedro getting an opportunity to play off Liam Delap was a “good thing”.
Speaking on ESPN FC, the Chelsea legend said: “That [Palmer’s injury] was for us an opportunity to see Joao Pedro taking the position of Cole Palmer, and that was quite effective.
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“We talked about it last week and we can see that there is a possibility that Cole Palmer can rest at some time — I don’t know how long he’s going to be injured — and Joao Pedro can take over. So that was the good thing.”
Before the game, Maresca had already talked up Pedro’s versatility, claiming that the 23-year-old could play in five attacking positions.
After his performance against the Hammers, you can now say that No.10 is definitely one of them.
Joao Pedro of Chelsea during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
How long Cole Palmer could be injured for
Regardless of how effective Pedro was on Friday, Maresca will want Palmer, his talisman, back as soon as possible.
Thankfully, the England international may not be out for too long. While he still needs to have a scan and his injury could actually be worse than first feared, there is a belief that Palmer may only be out for four-six weeks.
In the meantime, then, Maresca will have to continue relying on the likes of Pedro and Estevao Willian, with the latter also making a positive impact at the London Stadium. It was the teenager who set up Chelsea’s third goal, which really ended any hopes West Ham had of coming back.