Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca could soon have a major problem on his hands if he does not already.
It has been an up and down season for Maresca at Chelsea, with his side starting the campaign so well.
At one point, they were even challenging newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at the top of the table.
However, Chelsea may not even finish in fifth now, showing the extent of their collapse. To make matters worse, one of the Blues’ star players is allegedly not happy at the moment.
Cole Palmer unhappy with role under Enzo Maresca
Chelsea as a whole declined as the season progressed, but some individuals have really taken a step backwards, including Cole Palmer.
While Maresca was happy with Palmer following Chelsea’s 1-0 win against Everton over the weekend, the attacking midfielder failed to score yet again.
It means that Palmer is now on a run of 17 games in all competitions without a goal, and it looks like how Maresca has decided to utilise him may be the source behind his struggles.
Journalist Simon Phillips recently claimed on Si Phillips Talks Chelsea that his sources are hearing that Palmer is not happy with the role Maresca has given him.
It is thought that the 22-year-old is annoyed with his lack of freedom on the pitch and Maresca’s insistence on him not dropping deep to get the ball.
Despite the above, Palmer has still been able to score 14 goals and provide eight assists in 33 Premier League appearances this term. Some attackers cannot even get near those figures at their best.
What Enzo Maresca has said about Cole Palmer’s form
Before Chelsea’s victory over Everton, Maresca made it clear that, in his mind, Palmer’s dip in form has nothing to do with tactics and is more of a mental issue.
Speaking to BBC Sport and other outlets during his pre-match press conference, the Chelsea head coach said: “For sure it’s a mental thing, it’s not tactical or technical.
“Cole is still the player who scored 14 goals in 20 games. The style is the same, the manager is the same, the club is the same. Nothing has changed around Cole. It’s just mentally in this moment.”
Whatever the reason for Palmer’s dip in form, Chelsea really need him at his best for their last four games of the Premier League season. He could be the difference between them securing Champions League football or missing out on it.
