Enzo Maresca mentioned he has challenged Cole Palmer to be extra inventive and “take initiative” after the England playmaker claimed he was “sick of going backwards or sideways” through the Convention League ultimate in Might.
Chelsea kicked off their Membership World Cup marketing campaign on Monday with a 2-0 win over LAFC in Atlanta, their first recreation since beating Actual Betis 4-1 to carry the primary trophy of the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital period.
After that match in Wroclaw, Poland, Palmer hinted at a frustration in Chelsea’s method by claiming he took a private choice to try to make one thing occur within the ultimate third.
Whereas praising his efficiency towards LAFC — overwhelmed by targets from Pedro Neto and substitute Enzo Fernández in entrance of a sparse 22,137 crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Maresca confirmed he addressed Palmer’s feedback with the 23-year-old straight.
“I had a dialog with Cole [today] and I mentioned to him that I actually like the way in which he was when it comes to taking duty, taking the initiative on the ball,” mentioned the Chelsea boss. “He was attempting even on our facet to obtain the ball, attempting to go one versus one towards the participant. That is the Cole that we count on.
“After the Convention League ultimate he mentioned that he was fairly bored receiving the ball and so he determined to do one thing completely different. The day after that interview I mentioned to him, I mentioned, ‘however you are able to do that because the first minute, why are you ready so lengthy? Why are you ready? Why do not you do the identical after one minute?’
“At this time he was precisely doing what we requested him to do. We’re blissful when he does that as a result of I mentioned many instances that Cole is our greatest participant, he’s a prime participant and hopefully he can proceed to do the best issues.”
Nicolas Jackson assisted Neto’s Thirty fourth-minute opener earlier than he was changed on 64 minutes by Liam Delap, a £30 million summer time signing from Ipswich City. Delap added a recent spark to an ailing efficiency, spinning in behind from Palmer’s cross to help Fernández’s objective 11 minutes from time.
Maresca beforehand mentioned he has given Delap no assurances over his place within the staff, however praised Jackson’s response to renewed competitors for his spot within the lineup.
“I am inspired to see how Nico reacted to that. Final season, it was him with Marc Guiu, who may be very younger, so I’m fairly inspired to see how Nico goes to cope with competitors. Each are excellent quantity nines and hopefully each they will rating targets and help like at this time as a result of I choose to have 4 or 5 who rating 10 or 12 targets every fairly than one striker who scored 40 targets.
“Final 12 months, we tried to make use of completely different threats, a distinct weapon. Additionally we had two, three months with out Nico, with out Guiu. We tried to search out completely different options, however when you could have two strikers like Nico and Liam, it’s a good feeling as a result of you already know you may select one among them and it will be a good selection.”
Requested in regards to the swathes of empty seats, Maresca mentioned: “I believe the atmosphere was a bit unusual, the stadium was not nearly empty, not full. However total I believe after three weeks, nearly three weeks off, we began fairly properly, we created possibilities, we gained the sport, clear sheet.”
Chelsea subsequent face Brazilian giants Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday — the identical day LAFC play African membership Espérance Sportive de Tunis in Tennessee.
“We ready this recreation additionally pondering that the atmosphere was a bit completely different, however little question that the subsequent one can be a pleasant one as a result of we all know that the Brazilian groups, they all the time carry many, many followers. so we attempt to be prepared for the subsequent one,” Maresca added.
