Enzo Maresca names the strongest Chelsea player

The England international began the season in sensational form, continuing from where he left off the previous campaign, prompting Jamie Carragher to argue that Palmer deserved recognition as the best player in the Premier League.

Former Liverpool defender Carragher made this statement in December following a 4-3 victory over Spurs, noting that no one had outperformed Palmer over the past 18 months. However, both Palmer’s and Chelsea’s performances have dipped since then.

The 22-year-old appeared frustrated during last week’s defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton, extending his goal drought to six games.

Chelsea are looking to get their season back on track against bottom-of-the-table Southampton tonight, and Maresca is confident Palmer will shine despite concerns about his physical condition.

The Chelsea manager is resolute that there are no signs of the former Manchester City star struggling in training, emphasizing that the fan favorite continues to lead by example.

When asked if Palmer trains harder when things aren’t going well, Maresca said: ‘Yeah absolutely. I will tell you one detail that is very important.

‘Every six or seven months we do a physical test. So we did one in pre-season and we did another last week and [Palmer] was the strongest one. The one that won the test.

‘So that’s sure that he has desire not only on the ball, but he is working hard and he’s doing fantastic. I absolutely love that.

‘Every game, we expect a goal or assist from him. Because everyone relies on Cole, people see Cole as the solution. But the solution at the end has to be always the team.’

Chelsea’s slump, meanwhile, has placed in jeopardy the club’s chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2022.

Maresca was asked whether failing to return to Europe’s top competition could prompt players, mainly Palmer who has scored 39 goals for the club since the start of last season, to agitate for a move away from the club.

‘First of all we need to see how we finish. In case we don’t finish top four, we’ll see if Cole is happy or not,’ Maresca said.

‘I don’t think Cole is worried in this moment about next year that he wants to play Champions League. He is just focused on how he can help the team, how we can help him.”

The Italian coach joked: ‘I think Cole signed a new contract until 2045. For sure if we finish top four and play Champions League we can convince players to come here. But players that are already here, I don’t think we need that.’

Maresca remains ‘more certain’ than ever that his team is heading in the right direction despite their shaky league position.

Tuesday’s clash with Southampton at Stamford Bridge offers them a chance to secure only their third league victory in 11 matches, which could temporarily lift them back into the top four and provide the 45-year-old some breathing space.

‘Now I am even more sure (than when) we started,’ said Maresca. ‘I don’t have any doubt about the idea. The problem is in general people judge the idea because of the results.

‘If I ask you one month ago if you are happy with the idea when we were winning every game and we were second, probably everyone would have said yes.

‘Now that we drop points, we are seventh, people have doubts about the idea. For me I feel even more strong about the idea. It’s just a matter of results.’