Sport

Palmer’s injury has forced Chelsea to win matches in different ways

We’ve all been there. We’ve all stubbed a toe at home. The difference, however, is that when Cole Palmer did it last week it ruled him out of Chelsea’s away win over Burnley on Saturday. This was just as the attacking midfielder was preparing to return to action from a groin injury.

Palmer hasn’t played for Chelsea since the loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford in mid-September. This has been a challenge for Enzo Maresca who has been without his best player and creative heart for the past two months. There has, however, been a positive knock-on effect from this.

Without Palmer on the pitch, Chelsea have had to find other ways to win matches. Saturday’s away win over Burnley was an illustration of how the Blues now have greater variety in the final third, meaning there’s a good chance they will have improved by the time Palmer is back.

With Palmer still on the sidelines, Joao Pedro has been deployed in the number 10 role. The Brazilian is most effective when he can drift and get in between the lines. His movement and ability on the ball also makes it possible for Enzo Fernandez to venture forward from his position as one half of the double pivot.

It has helped Chelsea that Liam Delap has recovered from his injury that impacted him during the early part of the season. The former Ipswich Town forward has given the Blues a natural focal point to play off and around. Delap is improving with almost every match he starts for his new team.

Some of Chelsea’s abundance of wingers have started to find some consistency. Pedro Neto opened the scoring for the visitors to Turf Moor on Saturday. Alejandro Garnacho has given Chelsea a different dimension down the left side while Estevao continues to prove his potential on the right.

While Chelsea have been guilty in the past of being too slow and laborious in possession under Maresca, they have been much quicker into the final third recently. They are doing a better job of attacking open space in transition, making the most of their direct threats across the forward line. The goals they are now scoring are reflective of this.

None of this is to suggest that Chelsea haven’t missed Palmer. They have. They are a better team with Palmer on the pitch. Maresca is surely counting down the days until the England international is back in the fold and able to play matches. However, when Palmer does return he might rejoin a Chelsea outfit that has more edges than it did the last time he featured.

“We don’t know when, but it will be soon,” said Maresca when asked about Palmer’s latest injury set-back and when he could be back for the Stamford Bridge club. “He’s already on the pitch. He’s already touching the ball and the feeling is good.” Palmer will miss the Champions League match against Barcelona and is expected to be sidelined for the weekend’s clash with Arsenal.

Chelsea are a work-in-progress. Some believed the Blues would challenge for the Premier League title this season after such success at the Club World Cup in the summer. On the basis of the last few months, that will be beyond Maresca and his players. They’re not ready to mount a sustained title challenge.

Nonetheless, there has been enough in the recent performances against Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves and Burnley to suggest Chelsea are heading in the right direction. This is made all the more impressive considering Palmer has played no part since September. They might look back at this period as crucial in their development.