A dejected Cole Palmer at Chelsea. (Image: Getty.)
have been warned that their “biggest problem” at the moment concerns after a recent dip in form.
The midfielder has 14 goals and six assists this season, but that tally has not been added to in any of his last five matches in all competitions.
Concerns have started to grow as Palmer cuts a frustrated figure at Stamford Bridge, asking more of his team-mates around him. Now Mario Melchiot has explained that a stumbling block has arrived due to how teams mark him.
The former full-back told : “All the people that play against Palmer now, they’re marking him differently because he’s not anymore a surprise package. This season kicked off, he started off well. Now you see the assists numbers coming down and goal production coming down.
“It’s not because I don’t think he’s a good player because he’s a great player, but you have to remember in every team when you focus on one individual that is that good, you need some other players to create danger.
“It looks like they’ve put the problem at him and let him fix everything. I think that is where the biggest problem is at the moment.”
Mario Melchiot expressed his concerns over Cole Palmer and Chelsea. (Image: ESPN.)
Injuries to Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke have left even more reliant on the former man.
If cannot arrest their stagnant play around Palmer, the Blues could slip further down the table after .
Palmer’s performances since cannot be questioned, but the 22-year-old needs more support, with the winter transfer window coming and going without any senior forward additions.
Former defender recently issued a warning to that Palmer could look to depart if the Blues cannot match his ambitions.
“The idea that this project is going to take two or three years – the problem is that the best players in the team now won’t wait,” Carragher said on .
“ is one of the best players in the Premier League. He’s good enough to be competing for the biggest honours in the and .
“He scored in a European Championship final. That’s something that have got to keep in the back of their mind. He won’t wait around for this idea that, in a couple of years, we’ll get to the Champions League.”
are currently sixth in the league, out of the Champions League spots, with ground to make up if they want to appease Palmer.
Maresca’s outfit have been competing in the this season, though Palmer was left out of the initial squad for the League Phase. He has been included for the knockouts, however.