Context? Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca may be enjoying his first season managing Cole Palmer at Stamford Bridge, but this isn’t their first footballing rodeo together. Before becoming Chelsea’s head coach, Maresca had a front-row seat to Palmer’s talents as Manchester City’s U23 coach and later, as Pep Guardiola’s assistant in the first team. So, it’s no surprise Maresca is well aware of just how much City rates Palmer.
The Inside Gist? When Palmer made the switch to Chelsea last summer, it wasn’t for lack of talent—everyone at City knew the young winger was top-tier. But with the Cityzens stacked in attack, finding minutes for everyone was a challenge.
Maresca revealed, “Everyone at City, they knew that Cole was top, no doubt. The problem is that with the amount of players that they have there, it’s more difficult to share minutes with all of them.” It was more about playing time than quality.
Know this: Since heading to Chelsea, Palmer’s been on fire. Not only has he become one of the Premier League’s standout talents, but he’s also earning praise from former Aston Villa defender Zat Knight, who admits he’d “rather not face Palmer in a match.” Yeah, he’s that good.
Picture this: Chelsea’s current standing in the Premier League speaks for itself, with Maresca’s side sitting comfortably above City in third place.
But don’t expect him to let his squad get too comfortable, despite their impressive 3-0 win over Aston Villa last weekend. Maresca’s got his eyes on the long game, warning his players that complacency is a trap they can’t afford to fall into.
Keep in mind: Pep Guardiola, in hindsight, might be wishing he still had Palmer in his squad. The attacking midfielder’s departure was driven by his desire for more first-team minutes, something City couldn’t guarantee.
Guardiola confirmed, “He was asking for two seasons to leave… I said ‘no, stay.’ What could we do?” Fast forward to today, and with Haaland the only one firing on all cylinders in attack, Guardiola’s probably regretting letting Palmer go.
The Big Question: Palmer’s now living his best life at Chelsea, but could the departure have been a missed opportunity for City? With players like Savinho still finding their feet, it’s clear that the 22-year-old’s absence is being felt at the Etihad.
One thing’s for sure—City might be kicking themselves, wishing they had given Palmer the minutes he craved.
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