Head coach Enzo Maresca has provided a positive update on Liam Delap’s shoulder injury and explained why Cole Palmer has not travelled for our Champions League clash with Atalanta.
Maresca was speaking from Atalanta’s Stadio di Bergamo on Monday night, shortly after the team arrived in Italy following this morning’s training session in Cobham.
Chelsea travel to the north of Italy with a strong squad but are without Cole Palmer, who has only just returned after missing more than two months with injury, and Liam Delap, who was forced off with a shoulder problem during Saturday’s draw.
During his pre-match press conference for Tuesday night’s game, Maresca said: ‘Liam, fortunately, there is no fracture, which is good news.
‘Cole, it’s part of his process at the moment. He is not available, he can’t play two games in three days, so we planned this and it’s a way to protect him.’
Maresca was asked about the severity of Delap’s injury later in the press conference, adding: ‘In terms of how long he will be out, we are not sure at this stage to be honest.’
Two other players whose workload has been managed is Reece James and Wesley Fofana, who have both had lengthy spells on the sidelines in recent years.
Both James and Fofana played the full 90 minutes during our 0-0 draw at Bournemouth on Saturday and Maresca was asked about their availability due to the quick turnaround to the Atalanta match.
Maresca said: ‘Reece and Wes are both with us, so both are available for tomorrow’s game. Then we will see the starting eleven tomorrow.’
