Chelsea’s Cole Palmer Dilemma
Chelsea’s attack looks lost without Cole Palmer. The team can occasionally defend well and keep possession, but when it comes to creating chances, nothing happens unless Palmer is on the pitch weaving his magic.
That’s manageable when he’s fully fit—but right now, he isn’t. He’s already missed matches this season, sat out England duty during the international break, and was even rested against Brentford last weekend. Unsurprisingly, Chelsea produced little in his absence and had to call him on in the second half.
Palmer quickly delivered, scoring to drag the Blues back into the game, but the extra minutes only added to the strain ahead of the Bayern clash.
Warning Signs Over Palmer’s Fitness
Palmer completed all 96 minutes against Bayern, but late in the game his groin issue flared up. In the 93rd minute, after sprinting to the byline to deliver a cross, he went down grimacing and clutching his inner thigh. The cameras caught him kneeling in pain before he got back up, clearly uncomfortable.
As the final whistle approached, he was seen moving gingerly and massaging the affected area—a worrying sight for Chelsea fans who know just how much of their season hinges on his availability. And with a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in just three days, the concern is growing.
A Bigger Chelsea Problem
The issue isn’t only Palmer—it’s Chelsea as a whole. Until they learn to attack effectively without him, they’ll continue to over-rely on his brilliance. That, in turn, only increases the risk of his injury worsening, or of future setbacks becoming inevitable.
The club has known for months how demanding this campaign would be, yet there’s still no clear backup plan. Is Facundo Buonanotte, borrowed from Brighton, really the best they could come up with as an alternative?
Until Chelsea find answers, their “Palmer problem” will remain a “Chelsea problem.”
