Chelsea assistant coach Willy Caballero responded to criticism after the decision to substitute Cole Palmer during a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth sparked outrage among fans at Stamford Bridge.
Angry chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” echoed from the crowd when Palmer, who had been one of the standout players, was taken off in the 63rd minute while Chelsea was still searching for a winning goal to end a dismal Premier League streak.
With only one league victory in their last seven matches, Caballero maintained that head coach Enzo Maresca, who missed the post-match press conference due to illness, serves as an “example” to the club.
Pressure is mounting on the Italian manager following yet another missed opportunity, as Chelsea has now let slip 13 points at home from winning positions.
The mood turned sour among fans when Palmer, who recently returned from a lengthy injury layoff, was substituted in the second half.
“Every fan wants the best players on the pitch,” Caballero acknowledged. “We feel the same way. But Cole is coming back from a significant injury, and we must be mindful of player health while making strategic substitutions to pursue the win. We need them available for the remainder of the season.”
Regarding Maresca’s condition, Caballero explained: “He hasn’t felt well over the last couple of days; he had a slight fever. He participated in the last two training sessions but asked to be replaced after the match because he didn’t feel well.”
“He’s handling everything professionally. He dedicates many hours each day to training and coaching, even when he’s not feeling well. He is a model for me and the entire staff.”
Bournemouth took an early lead in the match when David Brooks scored after an initial save by Robert Sánchez. Chelsea equalized with a penalty from Palmer, then took the lead through Enzo Fernández, but ultimately, they relinquished the advantage as Justin Kluivert leveled the score before halftime after Chelsea struggled to deal with a long throw-in from Antoine Semenyo.
Speculation surrounds Semenyo, with many believing this could be his last game for Bournemouth ahead of a potential move to Manchester City. Before leaving the field, he appeared to bid farewell to the traveling fans.
However, head coach Andoni Iraola expressed confidence that Semenyo would feature in the upcoming match against Arsenal on Saturday. “It’s not his last game with us,” Iraola asserted. “While I can’t guarantee it, I believe he will play. He needs to recover after our demanding schedule, but he will be an important player for us in that match.”