Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has given a clear message to rising star Cole Palmer: expect even more intense marking from opponents as his strong form this season continues.
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Palmer, who transferred from Manchester City, made a significant impact last season with 22 league goals, and he’s already netted seven goals in just nine appearances this season.
This performance has drawn heightened defensive tactics from rival teams, including Liverpool, who assigned Curtis Jones to shadow him in a recent match—a strategy that limited Palmer’s influence.
In Chelsea’s latest 2-1 victory over Newcastle, Maresca moved Palmer to the left wing to avoid similar tactics, a shift that ultimately led to Palmer’s incisive pass for Nicolas Jackson’s opening goal.
As Chelsea prepares to face Manchester United at Old Trafford, Maresca is considering further adjustments to create space for Palmer on the field. “The next step for Cole is to stay focused and avoid frustration when marked one-on-one, as all great players are,” Maresca remarked.
“Last season, opponents might not have targeted him directly, but this year they are well aware of what he can do. He’ll need to adapt.”
The Chelsea manager also shared his strategy of shifting Palmer’s position, as seen in the Newcastle game, to give him more freedom from man-marking, noting that similar tactical flexibility might be necessary in many upcoming games.
As Maresca and his team prepare for Manchester United’s interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, Maresca praised United’s incoming manager, Ruben Amorim, who will take over on November 11.
While expressing confidence in Amorim’s coaching abilities, Maresca acknowledged that the transition from Portuguese to English football may pose challenges but believes Amorim will thrive after adapting.
