Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has made it clear that while he is thrilled to be working with Cole Palmer, protecting the attacker’s fitness will come before any short-term decisions. Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, Rosenior admitted excitement mixed with caution as the Blues enter a demanding run of fixtures.
The tie itself has been described by SoftFootball as a massive test for both sides, with January leaving little room for mistakes or risks. Palmer was notably absent from Rosenior’s first starting line-up during the 5-1 FA Cup win over Charlton Athletic, a result that comfortably sent Chelsea through while allowing the new coach to manage workloads.
That emphatic victory, also covered by SoftFootball, saw several regulars rested, including Palmer, after minor knocks picked up against Fulham. Rosenior described those decisions as precautionary rather than concerning, pointing to the volume of matches coming up.
Before addressing Palmer’s fitness in a post shared by the club’s official X account, Rosenior first explained his admiration for the 23-year-old and the process of building a relationship with him.
He grouped Palmer among Chelsea’s standout talents before adding:
I think Cole is a special talent, like Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto and Estevao [Willian] are special talents. My job is to get to know him, to connect with him and to understand what gets the best out of him.
Rosenior also stressed patience, saying:
That takes time. I’m just super excited to work with him.
The Chelsea coach went on to highlight Palmer’s rare quality at such a young age.
Reflecting on moments from the Fulham match, he said:
The scary thing with Cole is that he’s already got world-class ability, but he’s just 23 years old. He’s got so much more.
He pointed to specific flashes of brilliance, adding:
There were moments of genius against Fulham; when he stepped over the ball to put Liam [Delap] in on goal, there was also a pass to Pedro (Neto) which was ridiculous.
Despite that excitement, Rosenior was firm on the medical side. He revealed that conversations had already taken place before any selection calls were made.
He explained:
I had a really good in-depth conversation with Cole [on Monday], I’ve had a good in-depth conversation with the medical team. We’re at a stage of the season where we’ve got another eight games in four weeks, so it’d be crazy for me to risk any player in this phase of the season.
Rosenior also addressed Palmer’s versatility and tactical role but avoided locking him into one position.
He said:
Good players can play anywhere. I’ve seen Cole play as a false nine, off the right, off the left, and as a 10. He’s just a world-class player.
He added that balance matters just as much, noting:
My job is not just about him, it’s the functionality of the team.
As Chelsea prepare for Arsenal and a packed January, Rosenior’s message is clear. Palmer’s talent is unquestioned, but patience now could be the difference between a strong finish and unnecessary setbacks later in the season.
