Chelsea and Cole Palmer in a Tough Spot
Chelsea’s season started off strong, but things are looking rough now. They lost 2-1 to Aston Villa over the weekend. That’s their third loss in the last four Premier League games. Once sitting pretty in second place, they’ve now slipped to seventh. Palmer and Chelsea Stalling Amid Slump.
Star player Cole Palmer has been struggling too. He hasn’t scored or assisted in six games. He used to be a key player for the team, but right now, worries are rising about him. Former Everton player Leon Osman talked about this on The Weekend Wrap on Optus Sport. He said that Chelsea’s troubles and Palmer’s issues are connected.
Palmer’s Role and Chelsea’s Drop
Osman mentioned that Chelsea is depending too much on Palmer, which isn’t helping. They seem to have mentally switched off. Palmer’s play has dropped, but they’re relying on him, he said.
He believes Palmer works best as a No.10, where the team can focus on him. “When he’s on, everyone else looks better,” Osman said. But right now, he’s playing on the right wing, which isn’t his strength. “Being on the right isn’t helping him. He’s overthinking things,” he added.
Even with the recent slump, Palmer has done well in his year and a half at Stamford Bridge. He has 14 goals and six assists in the Premier League this season, showing he’s still an important player.
Other Problems for Chelsea
Former Liverpool player Don Hutchison thinks Chelsea’s struggles don’t just come from Palmer. There are bigger issues that need fixing. He talked about these issues on The Weekend Wrap too.
“It’s about how he plays. When he’s in a flat spot, it might look like he’s being lazy, but he’s not. They need to get him the ball more,” Hutchison said.
He also pointed out that Chelsea lacks a top striker, which is hurting their offense. “They don’t have a real No.9. Nkunku has disappointed,” he said.
Hutchison was also critical of the goalkeeping situation. Their best keeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, is out on loan. “They don’t have a top-class goalie right now,” he noted.
What’s Next for Chelsea?
Chelsea has a lot to fix if they want to get back on track. Palmer and some other players need to step up again. Palmer and Chelsea Stalling Amid Slump.
They’ll get a chance to bounce back when they play against struggling Southampton on Wednesday at 7:15 AM AEDT in the next Premier League match.
