Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is set to deploy Cole Palmer in the UEFA Conference League for the first time, signaling just how seriously the Blues are treating the competition.
Once European champions, Chelsea now find themselves in the third-tier tournament—a stark reminder of their recent struggles. But with the Premier League title out of reach, sitting 21 points behind leaders Liverpool, the club is shifting focus to securing silverware elsewhere.
Maresca has named a strong squad for Thursday’s last-16 first-leg clash against Danish Superliga leaders Copenhagen, with Palmer, Moisés Caicedo, and Enzo Fernández all traveling.
“Cole is always excited to play, even in training sessions, so he’s definitely eager for these games,” Maresca said in his pre-match press conference. “This was always the plan—to bring him back into the squad at this stage.”
A Fresh Start for Chelsea?
After a rough patch that saw Chelsea knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton and suffer three consecutive defeats, last weekend’s 4-0 win over Southampton brought some relief. Now, the Conference League presents a fresh opportunity.
“This is another chance to show we’re ready,” said Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella. “We need to take that last step and prove we can fight for big things.”
However, not all fans are convinced. A section of Chelsea supporters staged a protest before the Southampton match, frustrated by the club’s decline. Cucurella acknowledged their concerns, saying, “I understand them. Chelsea is a top club, and we need to prove that on the pitch.”
Despite the turbulence, Cucurella remains optimistic: “In December, people thought we were one of the best teams in the league. Now, it feels like we’re one of the worst. But that’s football. We’re young, we have a new manager, new ideas, and we’re playing good football. We understand the fans’ frustration, but we’re building something.”
With Palmer set to feature, all eyes will be on Chelsea’s approach in Denmark. Can they turn their Conference League campaign into a statement of intent for the future? Only time will tell.
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