Following Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League victory over Pafos, head coach Liam Rosenior offered updates on the fitness of Filip Jorgensen, Reece James and Cole Palmer.
The Blues were forced into changes at half-time, with Jorgensen and James replaced by Robert Sanchez and Estevao Willian respectively, prompting questions over the condition of several key players as Chelsea continue a demanding run of fixtures across all competitions.
Jorgensen was unable to continue after picking up an injury, and while Rosenior admitted the full extent of the issue is still unclear, he expressed disappointment for the goalkeeper. In a statement released via the club’s official X handle, Rosenior said:
Unfortunately Filip picked something up,
I’m devastated for him because he’s really impressed me, not just the game at Charlton but how he’s trained. Hopefully Filip can get better really quickly.
Reece James’ withdrawal, however, was more precautionary. Rosenior explained that the decision was made to carefully manage the captain’s workload amid a congested schedule. He said:
We are playing Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, so we want to make sure Reece is available as much as possible because he’s an outstanding player and a leader in our group.
Cole Palmer, meanwhile, was absent from the matchday squad altogether. Prior to kick-off, Rosenior confirmed the midfielder missed out due to a minor thigh issue and later provided further clarity on the situation. He added:
It was precautionary, He felt something really minor in the game against Brentford. It was quite early on so credit to him for playing through it. I don’t want to risk any players at this stage, especially players of his quality.
Softfootball earlier reported that Rosenior has stressed Chelsea will not take any risks with Palmer’s fitness, urging patience from supporters as the club carefully manages the no.10’s condition. The head coach remains confident Palmer will be available for the upcoming Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, as Chelsea continue to balance short-term results with long-term player welfare.
