Liam Rosenior has stated that Cole Palmer‘s absence during Chelsea’s victory over Pafos on Wednesday was a “precautionary” decision.
Palmer, who had previously been sidelined from October to December due to a groin injury and has continued to face fitness challenges this season, came as a surprise miss from the matchday squad despite having played the full 90 minutes in the win against Brentford last Saturday.
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Although Chelsea secured a narrow 1-0 victory against the resilient Cypriot side, Rosenior suggested that Palmer’s absence would not be prolonged, with a Premier League clash against Crystal Palace scheduled for Sunday.
Cole Palmer missed Chelsea’s win against Pafos (Getty Images)
Regarding Palmer’s absence, Rosenior explained, “It was precautionary; he felt something very minor early in the game against Brentford. I don’t want to risk any players at this stage, especially someone of Cole’s caliber.”
Meanwhile, Reece James was substituted at halftime as Rosenior aimed to carefully manage his captain’s playing time, while Filip Jorgensen picked up an injury and was replaced by Robert Sanchez shortly after.
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Moises Caicedo’s header in the 78th minute proved to be the decisive factor in the match, with Chelsea now sitting in eighth place. A top-eight finish would secure them a spot in the last 16, ahead of their upcoming group-stage match against Serie A champions Napoli next week.
“We need to keep pushing and also ensure we are solid defensively,” Rosenior commented on his team’s performance. “The body language of the group was positive; they kept fighting.”
“Moises is an exceptional player, a world-class midfielder. I’m not sure how many headers he’s scored throughout his career, but he’s a quality player. When facing a low block, our pivot players can operate higher up the pitch… he’s already scored goals this season.”
“The reality is we are in the top eight now, and if we win, we increase our chances of progressing.”