Chelsea must “find alternative strategies” when Cole Palmer is tightly marked, according to manager Enzo Maresca. This comment followed Palmer’s struggle to influence the game against Bournemouth, where midfielder Lewis Cook closely tracked him throughout.
The 22-year-old attacker had been impressive early in the season, contributing one goal and four assists, but he found it difficult to shine in a tough, physical match. Maresca acknowledged that players like Palmer are often targeted in such ways.
“Yes, these types of players will face these challenges,” Maresca admitted when asked about Palmer’s frustration after being fouled multiple times and closely marked. “Cook shadowed him for 95 minutes before we moved him to a wide position. It’s hard for Cole and any player in that situation, so you need to find a different approach.”
Despite being under pressure and facing 19 shots from Bournemouth, Chelsea managed to secure a 1-0 victory at Vitality Stadium. Substitute Jadon Sancho played a key role, assisting Christopher Nkunku’s 86th-minute goal, which sparked enthusiastic celebrations among the players and fans.
Maresca expressed satisfaction that his players shifted the narrative around the club, following reports of a rift between owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali earlier in the week.
“The players see what’s being said on social media, but I told them they can’t control that. All we can do is prepare for games the best way possible,” Maresca explained.
He added that winning these kinds of matches goes beyond tactics. “It’s about grit, winning individual battles, and sometimes that means getting dirty, picking up yellow cards. In games like this, those qualities are necessary.”
