Chelsea face an early balancing act with Cole Palmer this week as they head into another huge game against Manchester United.
Following the September international break, the Blues were fed into a run of seven games in 21 days, starting with a 2-2 draw away to Brentford on Saturday.
Chelsea marked their grand return to the Champions League away to Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, beaten in Bavaria after Harry Kane’s double, now facing a brutally quick turnaround with a trip to Old Trafford looming on Saturday evening.
Palmer played the first game of the season against Crystal Palace but a groin problem ruled him out of wins against West Ham United and Fulham before returning off the bench with a goal against the Bees last weekend.
The 23-year-old was on the scoresheet again last night but there was concern at full-time after he was seen clutching his groin with a grimace.
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Maresca insisted post-match his star man was ‘okay’ but with the quick turnaround, Chelsea will be forgiven for taking every precaution.
Focus will now switch back to training ahead of the trip up to Manchester and in Palmer’s case, managing his workload will be key.
‘It is not just about lightening the load because the coaches will still want some intensity in the work they are doing, because they are going into very high intensity games,’ Stephen Smith, CEO and founder of Kitman Labs which specialises in injury welfare and performance analytics, told Metro.
‘They will want intensity but what they may look to do is shorten the quantity and time they are out there and the volume they are working at.
‘So they will get them out there to get them that exposure they will need. But it will be short and sharp.’
Chelsea started their new season just 34 days after winning the Club World Cup where Palmer played a central role.
Taking into account the groin problem Chelsea’s medical staff have been managing and the busy week across the Champions League and Premier League, recovery will be just as vital as any work on the training pitch.
‘But there will also be a lot of effort and time invested in recovery this week which will be very important,’ Smith said.
‘We will be looking at an increase in a number of things that might be considered a bit basic, massage, stretching, the use of ice baths, different type of work in the gym, all of which will play a really important role in a week like this.’
Chelsea have lost three players to injury with Liam Delap ruled out until November with a hamstring injury while Dario Essugo will miss the rest of 2025 after undergoing thigh surgery. Levi Colwill meanwhile is unlikely to play again this season after an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Palmer’s groin issue however is one that has been carefully managed by the Chelsea staff.
‘It has been an ongoing thing with Palmer they appear to be managing,’ Smith said. ‘I think what we have seen is a very conservative and mature approach to managing a very valuable asset.
‘We know all the staff at Chelsea are absolutely world class, so what you are seeing there is the strength in their beliefs and processes come to a fore. I wouldn’t be too concerned, I imagine he is being very well looked after.’
