Mauricio Pochettino reveals reason behind Cole Palmer’s exclusion against Brighton
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed the reason for Cole Palmer’s excluded from the starting lineup before of Chelsea’s match against Brighton.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who moved from Manchester City to Stamford Bridge in the late summer transfer window, rapidly established himself as an important player for the Blues.
However, as the sides prepared to face off, Palmer was left out of the starting lineup. Pochettino said in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports that the English star had a training-ground injury, forcing the manager’s decision to keep him out.
When asked about the changes to the Chelsea lineup following a disappointing defeat to Newcastle last weekend, the former Tottenham manager said: “Some I feel was because of suspensions like Reece [James] and Marc [Cucurella].
“And then I think it’s always to assess and see what is the best starting eleven and combination. I think we think that that is the best combination to play today.”
Pochettino was then quizzed on importance of regrouping. He said: “Of course, it is always a collective. When you score or concede it is about collective work. I think yes, it is fair to say it is always a team.
“When we score goals and play games and we concede and win games it is a colledcitve also. I hope today we can change that feeling I think.”
Then, finally, when pushed for an answer on Palmer, Pochettino added: “He felt something during the week and we don’t want to take a risk. We have too many games ahead, now we are going into a very busy period and we don’t want to take a risk.”
The Argentine tactician also expressed reservations about Chelsea’s difficult festive fixture plan, which includes eight games in multiple competitions in December.
Pochettino pointed out the importance of managing the squad properly, particularly with three matches in seven days over the Christmas break.
Given the extreme fixture congestion, the manager’s tactical moves are being examined, and fans are anxious to see how the Blues navigate through this difficult stretch without the crucial Palmer in the starting lineup.
Chelsea’s resolve will be put to the test as they attempt to maintain their competitive edge in the Premier League and other leagues.
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