Suddenly withdrawal before the game! Palmer missed this round, Maresca explains the key decision

London Derby - In Chelsea's match against West Ham United, Blues' No. 1 star Cole Palmer was accidentally injured while warming up before the game and eventually could only sit on the bench and watch on the wall, which attracted widespread attention from fans.

According to Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca revealed to Sky Sports after the game that Palmer "feels something abnormal" during the warm-up before the game. Out of caution, the coaching staff decided not to let him take the risk of starting. Maresca said: "This is a necessary preventive measure. Palmer is the absolute core of the team and we cannot take any risks."

Originally, Palmer was arranged in the starting lineup and served as the core of the offensive on the right. However, just a few minutes after the warm-up began, he left the venue early due to discomfort and went straight back to the locker room access. In the subsequent scene, he sat on the bench wrapped in a training jacket and looked lonely, witnessing his teammates stepping onto the arena, which made countless Chelsea fans worried.

Due to Palmer's temporary absence, Brazilian star Estevao, who was only 18 years old, was urgently promoted to the starting lineup, while No. 3 goalkeeper Gaga Slonina was allowed to standby as a substitute.

Palmer's absence is particularly regrettable, because he had a brilliant record against West Ham United: he scored five goals in the 2023/24 season; he also scored goals last season; and he also contributed key assists in Stamford Bridge's 2-1 victory earlier.

At the beginning of the game, Chelsea, who lost its core, was hit - Paqueta scored a long-range world wave to lead West Ham. However, Maresca's team quickly stabilized its position and scored three goals in a row before the end of the first half to overtake 3-1. In the second half, the team continued to control the situation and finally defeated the opponent 5-1, achieving a refreshing victory.

Despite the successful outcome, Palmer's injury still casts a shadow on the victory. Fortunately, the team's overall performance is strong, making this "imperfect" perfect victory even more precious. Next, the club will closely monitor Palmer's physical condition to ensure that the offensive core can return healthy as soon as possible.