Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has suggested that it was unrealistic to expect Cole Palmer to star for the Blues on a game-by-game basis.
Palmer has developed into one of the best playmakers in world football since leaving Manchester City for Chelsea in the summer of 2023.
An incredible 39 goals and 21 assists have come from 74 appearances in all competitions, the England international the first name on the teamsheet when fit.
However, the 22-year-old has gone five Premier League matches without scoring a goal and a remarkable 13 games without contributing an assist.
Although the latter statistic can partly be put down to his attacking teammates losing their way in the final third, the double barren spell has led to criticism regarding his recent form.
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'He is a human being'
Speaking at a press conference on Monday morning, Maresca has reiterated that the dip in output has emphasised why Chelsea should not be reliant on the qualities of Palmer.
As quoted by football.london, the Italian told reporters: "I'm always concerned about general performance but I'm not concerned about Cole.
"Cole is a human being. The problem with Cole is probably we rely on Cole for everything and I've said since the start, we need to rely on the team. We are not worried about Cole at all."
He added: "Just continue working in the way he is working. The other day, I think yes he had a great chance but overall the performance from Cole, every game we expect goals and assists from him, so it's difficult; he is a human being.
"His performances at the minute probably reflect the team's performances."
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Could Palmer be dropped?
The fact that Palmer has started each of Chelsea's 26 Premier League fixtures during 2024-25 highlights how he is viewed by Maresca, and rightly so.
On the flip side, the other attack-minded players in the squad would be negatively judged had they only chipped in with three goals and no assists across the last 12 Premier League outings.
Injuries to Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson do not help Palmer's cause when it comes to getting back on track, nor does it when he is being deployed as a false nine rather than a number 10.
Palmer started on the right against Aston Villa on Saturday, but the general consensus is that he could be frequently moved around the attack to find a solution, rather than be considered for a place on the substitutes' bench.
Darren Plant
