Maresca demands more initiative from Palmer: Chelsea seeks his best version

Enzo Maresca has urged Cole Palmer to be more creative and to “take the initiative” after the talented player expressed his frustration with the team’s play. Chelsea, under Maresca’s management, began their participation in the Club World Cup with a 2-0 victory over LAFC in Atlanta. This match marked their return to the competition after winning 4-1 against Real Betis, thus securing the first title of the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital era. After the match in Poland, Palmer hinted at his discontent with Chelsea’s approach, mentioning his personal decision to seek offensive actions in the final third of the field.

“I had a conversation with Cole [today] and I told him that I really like the way he took responsibility, taking the initiative with the ball”.

Enzo Maresca

Maresca, in praising Palmer’s performance against LAFC, confirmed that he addressed the 23-year-old player’s comments directly. Maresca highlighted the importance of Palmer taking responsibility and initiative on the field, seeking one-on-one situations. The coach recalled Palmer’s words after the Conference League final, where the player expressed his boredom with ball possession. Maresca urged him to maintain that attitude from the start of the game. Maresca expressed his satisfaction with Palmer’s performance, considering him the best player on the team and hoping he continues to show his talent.

Cole Palmer and Chelsea won their first Club World Cup match against LAFC on Monday. Nicolas Jackson assisted on Neto’s first goal in the 34th minute, before being substituted for Liam Delap, who came on to give the attack a new boost, assisting on Enzo Fernández’s goal. Maresca also commented on Jackson’s reaction to the competition for a place in the team. The coach praised Jackson’s response to the competition for his position. Likewise, Maresca prefers to have several players capable of scoring goals, rather than relying on a single striker. Regarding public attendance, Maresca acknowledged that the atmosphere was unusual due to the lack of fans, but he was satisfied with the team’s performance after three weeks of rest. Chelsea will face Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday. Maresca anticipates a more vibrant atmosphere in the next match due to the Brazilian fans.