Chelsea have gone from looking over their shoulder in the Premier League to seeing top four rivals move away in the race for Champions League football.
Enzo Maresca has overseen a run of just two wins in 10 league games, leaving them sit seventh in the table with 12 games to go.
Frustration has been clear to see both on and off the pitch, and this has been no more evident than in star player Cole Palmer.
No goals or assists in four league games is the England international’s longest drought, and some of his frustration has begun to be aimed at teammates.
Palmer was fuming with Christopher Nkunku after a pass went astray in a key area against Aston Villa, even though the incident was likely his fault.
Enzo Maresca can’t confirm Cole Palmer will stay if Chelsea miss out on Champions League
A player with the quality of the former Manchester City man will clearly be wanting to play Champions League football, however that is something that Chelsea have a real fight to secure this season.
When asked by the Evening Standard, Maresca was unable to confirm that Palmer would remain at the club if they missed out on this goal, instead stating that the player was just focusing on the task in hand.
He said: “For sure if we finish top four and we can play in the Champions League next season we can convince players to come here. But players that are already here? I don’t think we need that.
“First of all we need to see how we finish. Then, in case we don’t finish in the top four, we’ll see if Cole is happy or not happy.
“But I don’t think that Cole is worried in this moment about next year, that he wants to play in the Champions League. Cole is just focused on how he can help the team, how we can help him and how all together – as I said already many, many times this season – we can bring this club where this club has to be.”
Palmer continues to create chances despite the Blues’ poor form, however teammates have been struggling to convert since the start of December.
Cole Palmer’s contract stops him quitting this summer
Palmer was one of the players to sign a long-term contract with the Blues when he signed, with that already being extended by a year.
It was speculated that as part of those deals signed by the Chelsea players would allow them a break clause if the club didn’t reach set targets.
It has been reported though that Palmer has no exit clause in his deal, and would likely demand a Premier League record fee for any side willing to test their luck to sign him.
The Blues need their star man more than ever, starting with the upcoming visit of Southampton to Stamford Bridge.
