Enzo Maresca breaks silence on Cole Palmer substitution

September 20, 2025 20:45 GMT (UK), by Sri Aswin

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has said that Cole Palmer was not 100 percent fit to face Manchester United in the Premier League today.

The Blues suffered a huge setback with Robert Sanchez being sent off after just five minutes, and this contributed towards their 2-1 loss at Old Trafford.

Estevao Willian and Pedro Neto were taken off immediately after Sanchez’s sending off while Palmer was substituted at the 20th-minute mark.

Palmer was frustrated after coming off the pitch. It seemed that the England international had picked up a fresh groin injury, but Maresca has now clarified that he was not fully fit.

He said: “Cole this morning did a test to play this game. He was not 100 percent. It was a fantastic effort for the club, for his team-mates, for the team. Unfortunately he was not 100 percent.”

Palmer has been the Blues’ main contributor of goals for the past two years and it was somewhat surprising that he was substituted despite playing with 10 men.

Maresca obviously did not want to risk Palmer after going a man down. The early substitution hampered the Blues’ chances of picking up a point on the road.