Chelsea’s Cole Palmer Faces Struggles Amidst Team’s Winter Woes

LONDON, England — Chelsea‘s recent struggles have prompted discussions about the performance of young star Cole Palmer. After a sensational start to the season, Palmer has hit a dry spell in output since the October international break. With only eight goals and one assist in his last 17 league appearances, questions arise about his form and potential regression.

Palmer, who burst onto the scene with six goals and five assists in the first seven games of the 2023-24 season, has not found the net in his last four matches. This includes a disappointing FA Cup exit against Brighton & Hove Albion. Despite this dip, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca views the narrative of regression as overstated. “Tonight was one of the best games from Cole in terms of showing leadership when it was a difficult moment for the team,” he said following a recent 3-1 victory over Wolves. “(In the) second half he was asking for the ball… not only when they are scoring goals or giving assists.”

The current season presents Palmer with challenges not faced in his debut campaign. Opponents are increasingly devoting defensive resources to limit his impact, employing man-marking strategies that have complicated his ability to influence matches. However, analytics suggest Palmer’s production remains steady. He is just two goals shy of matching his non-penalty goal tally from last season.

Palmer’s finishing efficiency remains strong, exceeding expected goals metrics for the current season. Nevertheless, his creative output poses a different issue. Palmer leads the Premier League with 66 created chances but has not registered an assist since December 4. In this span, he has generated 32 chances but has seen teammates squander these opportunities.

An alarming statistic highlights that 12 of his teammates have missed chances he created. Striker Nicolas Jackson, currently enduring a scoring drought, ranks as one of the primary offenders. Palmer provided opportunities, yet Jackson failed to convert at crucial moments against teams like Bournemouth and Everton.

Other teammates have struggled as well, limiting Palmer’s effectiveness. Center-backs such as Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill have also missed scoring chances presented by him. Just recently, Josh Acheampong let slip an invitation to score during his first Premier League start against Crystal Palace.

Despite these setbacks, analysts suggest Palmer’s situation is likely a phase rather than a permanent decline in form. As Chelsea navigates the latter part of the season, there lies potential for him to improve his assist tally, especially if teammates capitalize on opportunities. Maintaining his elite contributions amidst increased defensive attention cements Palmer’s status as a vital player for the team’s ambitions.

Looking ahead to the remaining 14 matches, Palmer’s fitness will be pivotal. His performance could largely dictate Chelsea’s journey towards a top-four finish in the Premier League, contingent upon how effectively his teammates can harness his prolific contributions in the final third.