ENZO Maresca says Chelsea’s “best player” Cole Palmer can play with wonder kid Brazilian winger Estevao Willian after the England international returned to Chelsea’s squad for their top-of-the-table clash against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Palmer has been out injured since the Blues’ 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 20 and has played only four games this season.
Despite missing their attacking star, Chelsea are second in the Premier League, six points behind Mikel Arteta’s leaders.
Chelsea are also seventh in the Champions League league phase after eighteen-year-old Estevao scored a brilliant goal in their 3-0 destruction of Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Estevao started on the right wing, Palmer’s position when he first broke into the side. Enzo Fernandez has been playing in the number ten role but could drop back to partner Moises Caicedo in midfield if Palmer goes straight back into the team.
“He is our best player, we are happy he is back,” Maresca said. “We need to give him time to be 100 our cent fit. He has done fantastic in the past and no doubt he is going to do very good for this club in the future.
“Everyone is happy, the team-mates are happy, we are all happy and the most important thing is Cole is happy because a footballer wants to play games and make the sessions every day.
“It’s always good when the ones that start and play do the right thing. Good because they give me doubt for next games. Important that they play good and make right decisions when they have the chance. It is a good problem for a manager, always.”
Chelsea were talked about as title contenders this time last year when they won five consecutive league games and were second in the league.
They fell away to finish fourth and Maresca isn’t denying their ambitions.
He said: “For sure it is different to one year ago. We spend one more year together. We went through a moment where we can learn from that moment. But it is still very early. Important to be where we are now in March, April and then we will see.
“I can understand we are talking about last year. But these players in seventeen, eighteen months together show they can beat [top] teams. Premier League last year we had some good moments against good teams. This season, we compete always. Sometimes can win, sometimes can’t, but important we compete against any team.”
Arsenal has lose only one game in the league this season and have conceded just six goals in twelve games.
Maresca added: “I said after the game it is another big game. We won against Barcelona, was a good feeling. If it is bigger than last one? I don’t know, they are all important games. For sure, beating Barcelona, or if we can beat Arsenal, it is a nice feeling but it is still three points the same.”
