Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is prepared to include Cole Palmer in the squad for their UEFA Conference League match, showing the club’s commitment to the tournament.
While the Conference League does not hold the same prestige as the Champions League or Europa League, Chelsea’s involvement in the competition is a reflection of their current struggles. Just four years ago, they were crowned champions of Europe, but now they find themselves competing in the third tier of European football.
With Chelsea sitting 21 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, Maresca has taken a strong squad to Denmark for Thursday’s last-16 first-leg match against Copenhagen, the Superliga leaders. Palmer, who has not played in the tournament since the playoffs in August, could make his return alongside Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.
“Cole is excited to play training sessions, so for sure, he is excited to play these games,” Maresca said during a pre-match press conference. “The plan was exactly this plan (to bring him back into the Conference League squad).”
Chelsea recently ended a poor run of form with a 4-0 win over Southampton, having previously suffered three straight defeats in all competitions, including an FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton.
Defender Marc Cucurella noted that the game against Copenhagen is a chance for the team to prove themselves. “This is another opportunity to show that we are ready,” he said. “We need to do the last step. It’s a good moment to show that we are ready to fight for big things.”
