Chelsea star Cole Palmer has vowed to return to his best as his slump in form continues – but boss Enzo Maresca isn’t concerned in the slightest.
The Blues leapfrogged above Manchester City into fourth spot after smashing Southampton 4-0 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.
Following back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Aston Villa, the victory was a much-needed boost for Chelsea’s Champions League qualification hopes – but Palmer still cut a frustrated figure at full-time.
Once again, the playermaker failed to get in on the act in what is his worst run as a Chelsea player since arriving in 2023.
It’s now seven successive games in all competitions [six in Premier League] that the 22-year-old has failed to be directly involved in a goal.
And Palmer’s disappointment was there for all to see after the drubbing as he was spotted crouching down and staring at the pitch.
A video that has been doing the round on social shows the England midfielder being consoled by teammate and goalscorer Pedro Neto.
Sharing a snap of him looking dejected following the full-time whistle on his Instagram story, Palmer said: “Well done lads +3.”
Issuing a defiant six-word message, he then added: “Don’t worry I will be back.”
Even Maresca was seen in deep discussion with Palmer on the pitch after the game – though the Italian has no worries over his form.
Speaking to TNT Sports on what he told the ex-Manchester City man, he remarked: “It’s quite easy.
“You have here [on the punditry panel] former players [Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch] who have all been big players and all of them went through some bad moments.
“It’s normal. It’s like a team. You cannot expect Cole Palmer, every season or every game, to be like last season or like the first part of the season.
“It’s normal, it’s something normal. He’s a human being, he’s missing some things and now it’s how we react.
“So I was telling him that. Everything is normal. He’s happy, he’s OK.”
Maresca added: “I’ve said already that he has been lucky in his career, even if he is young, because he’s shared moments, changing rooms, with top players.
“He knows that any top players go through bad moments.
“It’s how you react. Keep calm, keep working, keep laughing, be calm, be happy, enjoy the football. It’s the only thing you have to do.”
While Palmer may be struggling in the final third, he has still enjoyed another impressive season – chipping in with 14 goals and six assists from 27 top-flight matches.
He is the Blues’ leading scorer in the division, while no other Chelsea player has provided more assists.
Palmer’s next opportunity to get back in the goals is against Copenhagen in next week’s Europa Conference League last-16 first leg.
Now included in the squad after being omitted from the league phase to keep himself fit, Palmer will desperate to make up for lost time in Europe.