Enzo Maresca says Chelsea are not over-reliant on Cole Palmer and points to recent performances when Palmer missed games. Palmer missed the West Ham match with a groin problem and was replaced by Estevao, who provided an assist in a 5-1 win. Maresca noted Chelsea achieved a top-four finish during a period when Palmer was not fully fit, arguing the squad can perform without him. Fulham twice recovered from goal deficits to draw 1-1, with Emile Smith Rowe scoring 94 seconds after coming on. Smith Rowe attributes substitute impact to competitive training and hard work when introduced.
"You already know what I think about that. How I feel about it," said Maresca when asked about those who say Chelsea are 'Palmer FC'. "You are there to say things, and people are there to say things, or the ones that say just we are 'Cole team'. "For sure, Cole is our best player, no doubt. For sure, with Cole we are a much, much, much better team."
Maresca insisted Chelsea's results do not depend on Palmer's availability, which he thinks they showed last season. "But I think we already showed last year in two, three months where Cole, unfortunately for us, was not 100% and we achieved top four. "No one expected that, and most importantly, no one asked from me in my first season. They asked me in two seasons [to qualify for the] Champions League."
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