"Absolutely, he can be" - Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca outlines what Cole Palmer must do to become 'world-class'

Ahead of Chelsea’s Europa Conference League clash with Astana, manager Enzo Maresca was asked a bold question: is Cole Palmer currently the best player in the Premier League?

The question sparked a glowing response from Maresca, who lauded the young talent but tempered his praise with a note of cautious optimism.

Here's what he said (via Tribal Football):

"He could be in this moment. But in England, they are quite lucky because in the Premier League, there are so many good players. For sure, Cole is one of them, but it is full of fantastic players, the Premier League."

Palmer, who has quickly become a pivotal figure for Chelsea since his arrival, has been turning heads with his consistent brilliance on the pitch. At just 22 years old, the attacking midfielder has displayed a maturity and flair that has made him a standout in a league brimming with world-class talent. He has been involved in 38 league goal contributions in 2024 - the most by a Chelsea player in a calendar year.

When pressed about Palmer’s potential to become a truly world-class player, Maresca didn’t hesitate to express his belief in the youngster’s future. He said:

"Absolutely, he can be. But he is just 21, so he can do many, many things better. He has to learn many things. He has to learn – and is learning in this moment – that everyone is marking him man-to-man, but there are many things he can improve, for sure."

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Enzo Maresca's plan for Chelsea's game against Astana and squad management

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has outlined his squad plans for the Europa Conference League fixture against Astana on Thursday (December 12). He emphasized the opportunity for younger players to shine amidst a challenging schedule.

The match, relocated to Almaty due to renovation work at Astana’s usual home, poses unique logistical and environmental challenges with freezing temperatures and a grueling 16-hour round trip.

Speaking ahead of the game, Maresca confirmed that several young players, including defender Josh Acheampong, will start, while others from the club’s Under-21s will also travel with the team.

With Chelsea’s progression from the league phase already secured, the manager sees this as a chance for emerging talents to gain invaluable experience on the European stage.

Here's what he said (via Chelsea's official website):

"For the younger ones, it is to enjoy this moment because it’s always nice to be involved in the first team and involved in a European competition."

Managing player workload remains a priority as Chelsea prepare for a quick turnaround, returning to London early Friday morning before facing Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday.

Maresca admitted that balancing the squad for both fixtures required careful consideration. He said:

"We try to manage in the same way we have done until today. Some of them will fly with us, some will stay here and work. Most of those who play tomorrow would have also played against Southampton last week, so we will try to keep them in the regular situation of playing 90 minutes every week."

Despite the grueling travel schedule, Maresca didn’t rule out the possibility of relying on some players from Thursday’s squad for Sunday’s game, though he hopes it won’t be necessary. He said:

"Ideally, we would not [need them], but if we need [them to], they are going to make the effort."