Dismissing Manchester United speculation
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has firmly dismissed rumours linking star playmaker Cole Palmer with a move to Manchester United insisting the 23-year-old England international is completely happy at Stamford Bridge.
Responding to claims that Palmer is unsettled in London and wants to return to Manchester Rosenior could not have been clearer when asked if the attacker is untouchable.
“Yes” Rosenior said. “It’s simple Cole’s an incredible player. I’m not surprised at the timing. A new manager comes in and all of a sudden there’s people unsettled. It’s not true. Cole’s here he’s very happy and I can’t wait to see him back on the pitch.
“There’s no reason for assurance. It’s so unrealistic. It’s come from nowhere. There’s nothing in it. There’s no reason to have the conversation. That’s where I’m at. Cole is very happy. I’ve had numerous conversations with him. Our thoughts are on how we can make this team better how he can improve and how I can help him. He loves being here and he wants to be a Chelsea player. You can’t stop speculation but some speculation is so far from the truth. There’s no point in having a discussion about it.”
Palmer’s importance and upcoming return
Palmer has been sidelined by injury but is expected to return for Wednesday’s crucial Champions League clash against Napoli in Naples. Chelsea need a win in this final group-stage match to give themselves a realistic chance of finishing in the top eight and qualifying directly for the last 16.
Rosenior emphasised Palmer’s central role in Chelsea’s plans describing him as an incredible talent who is fully committed to the project at the club. The head coach has not felt the need to seek any assurances from the board about the player’s future highlighting the strong relationship and clear focus on improvement.
Napoli face injury crisis ahead of must-win game
Napoli arrive in the match with significant problems missing up to 11 players through injury. The Italian champions are at risk of an early exit from the competition and must beat Chelsea to have any hope of reaching the playoffs.
Despite Napoli’s difficulties Rosenior knows his side will need to be at their best to secure an important away win. “Napoli are a great team” Rosenior said. “They proved that last year with a fantastic title. They have outstanding individual players they have a world-class coach. They’re still in the position where they can get through.”
Chelsea’s recent form has been mixed but a victory in Naples would provide a major boost as they aim to secure Champions League progress and maintain pressure in the Premier League title race. Palmer’s return strengthens their attacking options significantly.
