Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has spoken to the media after his side’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in their final game of their tour of the United States.
With the Premier League season just around the corner, Blues fans are eager to know the availability of key players Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson for the start of the new campaign.
Palmer returned to Cobham today after a long summer break and his involvement in the European Championships with England. Chelsea fans and staff are naturally delighted to have him back, but questions remain over his fitness for the upcoming matches.
Maresca addressed those concerns, particularly regarding the availability of Palmer and Jackson for the pre-season friendly against Inter Milan on Sunday and the crucial Premier League opener against Manchester City a week later.
Will Palmer and Jackson play for Chelsea against Inter Milan?
Asked if Palmer and Jackson will be ready for the Inter Milan and Manchester City games, Maresca replied:
“I’m not sure it will be for Inter. I hope it will be for the game against City,” he said.
Maresca is optimistic that both players will be fit for the game against Manchester City on the opening weekend of the new EPL season, and stressed the importance of having them ready for the league opener.
“They are all important players,” he added. “Cole and Nicolas scored almost 40 goals last year, so they are both very important.”
With less than two weeks to go until the new Premier League season gets underway, Chelsea fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on the fitness of Palmer and Jackson.
