Following a final discussion with both Sir Jim and the board, we have ultimately reached a decision regarding Cole Palmer future to join Manchester United. It was a challenging choice, but one that had to be made
Palmer’s goal contributions in a season disrupted by injuries
Cole Palmer has endured a frustrating and stop-start 2025-26 campaign, with recurring physical issues considerably hampering his involvement. The gifted playmaker has been limited to just 13 appearances across all competitions this season, though he’s still managed to find the net five times during those sporadic outings.
The 23-year-old remains absolutely vital to Chelsea’s game plan when fully fit, which is precisely why the club’s medical staff and coaching team continue to exercise extreme caution when managing his fitness. This protective philosophy was front and center when the decision was made to rest Palmer for the European fixture against Cypriot opposition Pafos.
Why Palmer sat out the Pafos match and an update on James’s condition
In his pre-match press conference before facing Pafos, Rosenior disclosed that Palmer had been experiencing “a little bit of tightness in his thigh.” The Chelsea boss emphasized the precautionary reasoning behind the decision, while expressing optimism that his number 10 would be ready to feature when the Blues travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace on Sunday.
“It was precautionary,” Rosenior explained. “He felt something really minor in the game against Brentford. It was quite early on so credit to him for playing through it. I don’t want to risk any players at this stage, especially players of his quality. He’s got a really good chance to be involved and start the game on Sunday, and we will keep preparing him for that.”
While anxieties about Palmer’s fitness have subsided somewhat, fresh concerns have emerged regarding both club captain Reece James and backup goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen. Neither player managed to see out the full 90 minutes of the European clash with Pafos.
Both were withdrawn at the break, compelling Rosenior to reshuffle his lineup during the interval. First-choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez entered the fray alongside highly-touted Brazilian teenager Estevao, who also came off the bench. Despite the enforced changes, Chelsea ground out a hard-fought 1-0 victory courtesy of Moises Caicedo’s late winner in the 78th minute.
Speaking about Jorgensen’s setback, with the specific nature of his problem still uncertain, Rosenior expressed his disappointment: “Unfortunately Filip picked something up. I’m devastated for him because he’s really impressed me, not just the game at Charlton but how he’s trained. Hopefully Filip can get better really quickly.”
The manager also touched on his skipper’s situation, offering reassurance that James’s issue doesn’t appear to be serious: “We are playing Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, so we want to make sure Reece is available as much as possible because he’s an outstanding player and a leader in our group.”
