Maresca could drop Palmer, freeing Chelsea’s “superstar” in a new role

It’s just to say Chélat are underperforming in ENZO MARESCASystem for the moment, but having reached the semi-finals of the conference league while sitting inside the Premier leagueThe main qualification zone is everything to fight during the weekly work weeks.

Finish inside the top five should provide a route Champions LeagueAnd with the blues seated in seventh place, four points behind Manchester City, it is crucial that Fulham are beaten in Craven Cottage this afternoon.

The problem, of course, is that Chelsea has won any of their last nine interior games on the road, with the chalets lose only four of their 16 games At home in the elite of this quarter.

Maresca aligned an surprisingly solid alignment against LEGIA Warsaw Thursday, losing 2-1 in the evening but which prevails over the aggregates.

It will not be easy, but the blues must simply be seen above the line in it.

Chelsea Team News

MARESCA entrusted During his pre-match press conference that Romeo Lavia is available for the selection after the return of an injury and should be involved.

Wesley Fofana, Marc Guiu and Omari Kellyman remain absent in the long term, while Mykhaylo Mudryk is still not available.

Pedro Neto And Call Maduyke were stuck for the quarter -final, but Jadon Sancho picked up a pass Marc CucurellaThe goal and can imagine another shot on the large flank against a stable defense of Fulham.

Enzo Fernandez And Caicedo months were both excluded from the match team Thursday before this weekend’s match, and with both ready and rare, Maresca may want to make a daring movement and fall Cole Palmer For the second time in four Premier League matches.

Why MARESCA could drop Palmer

It was 15 games all competitions Since Palmer has found the back of the net for the last time. Undoubtedly, he is one of the superlative attacks in Europe, but also, he is below his best at the moment.

Last season, the 22 -year -old was untouchable, unscathed in his style of sale in the tactile midas in front of the goal. Now he cuts a frustrated figure while the chances will be a begging and the mastery seems to be absent.

The sun will shine again on the English international, which Jamie Carragher of Sky Sports Declared “the best player in the Premier League” in October, after starting the term with such a plume. However, he has 14 goals and nine assists Through 31 appearances, barely a statement to sniff.

Palmer has maintained an impressive creative level in the Premier League, always presenting the striking attributes which earned him such high praise.

According to Sofascoremidfielder Rangy has an average of 2.5 key passes per championship match (more than 2.1 averages from last year), winning 56% of its duels on the ground and creating 20 large chances.

However, there is another jewel of play that could be unleashed in a new role later in the day. With Lavia combining so well with Caicedo in the first strokes of the season, Maresca may well try to make things happen here.

How Marsca could replace Palmer

This could do good to Palmer to sit against Fulham by Marco Silva, fueling it to have a positive impact when introduced in the second half.

Chelsea does not have an abundance of central attacking fields, and although Neto can play the role of Jackson’s back, it is Fernandez who should be allowed to move in the kingdom of Palmer.

Fernandez has gone through emotions since he became the most expensive player in English football of all time in February 2023, leave Benfica in an agreement worth 107 million pounds sterling. He was considered a “superstar” by Journalist Roy NemerAnd begins to prove such praise despite the difficulties of his team.

The 24 -year -old came to a giant with his timing and his movement in the danger area, delimiting himself in space and using his feet or head to withdraw home.

Mainly from a deeper role, this is quite impressive, especially when doubling the fact that he is one of the most creative players in the Premier League at the moment.

To add a context to that: in March, no player through the main division of England has created more likely than the eight of Fernandez, the Argentinian prosperous in his influential central place.

According to FbrefThe mid 10 midfielder ranks among the highest 14% of the Premier League field environments this season for the involvement of objectives, the most important 8% for shooting actions, the most important 13% for tempted passes and the highest 11% for gradual passes for 90.

Obviously, he has the properties to play a more advanced role, and Maresca is not afraid to give him a shot. Four times already in 2024/25, Fernandez presented the number ten, mark a goal and record help.

He is not one to move away from defensive responsibilities either, Win 4.4 duels and recover 4.3 balls per game so far. Place it before Caicedo and Lavia could compact the Chelsea midfielder while keeping the gaming spark that Palmer provides with such a balance, even when things do not happen.

This testifies to Chelsea’s strength in depth that such a scenario is even a possibility, and it could be the one Maresca wants to apply to keep his players on their guard and take a palmer out of the shooting line.