Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, has urged his squad to take more responsibility as Cole Palmer experiences a dip in form, acknowledging the team has become overly dependent on the England international.
Palmer has been a key figure for the Blues this season, contributing 14 goals and six assists in the Premier League.
However, his last goal came in mid-January, and he hasn’t provided an assist since December 1.
Chelsea’s struggles have coincided with this downturn, slipping from just two points behind league leaders Liverpool in mid-December to seventh place after three defeats in their last four matches.
Despite this, they remain just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City in the race for Champions League qualification.
Ahead of Tuesday’s clash with bottom-placed Southampton, Maresca dismissed concerns over Palmer’s form, emphasizing the need for a collective effort from the squad.
“I’m not concerned about Cole because Cole is a human being, and during the season, he can have moments where he struggles a little bit more,” Maresca told reporters on Monday.
He admitted that Chelsea’s reliance on Palmer has been excessive and reiterated the importance of the entire squad stepping up.
“The problem with Cole is probably that we rely on him for everything, and I have said since the start that we need to rely on the team. Of course, we need big players—top players like Cole—but we are not worried about him at all.”
Maresca acknowledged the high expectations placed on Palmer, noting that his recent performances mirror the team’s struggles in front of goal.
“Every game, we expect a goal or an assist from him. It’s difficult—he’s a human being, he’s a player. At this moment, his performances probably reflect the team’s performance.
“We are struggling to score goals and need to be more clinical when we get chances.”
Despite Chelsea’s recent setbacks, the Italian remains optimistic about their ability to regain momentum in the push for a top-four finish.
“Even against Villa (a 2-1 defeat on Saturday), I think the identity was there,” Maresca said. “The way we played on and off the ball was very similar to what we have been doing all season.
“So the identity is there. I said after the Aston Villa game that I feel if we can get one win, we could go on a good run and build momentum again. That is what I believe the players need at this moment.”
With Champions League qualification still within reach, Maresca will hope his side can rediscover their cutting edge, starting with a crucial match against Southampton.
