Enzo Maresca on Palmer missing the penalty

Chelsea secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Leicester City this afternoon, moving back into the Premier League’s top four. The match, held at Stamford Bridge, saw Marc Cucurella score the decisive goal in the 60th minute, capitalizing on a pass from Enzo Fernandez to fire a low shot past Leicester’s goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. Despite dominating possession, Chelsea struggled to convert their chances, with Cole Palmer notably missing a penalty in the first half—a rare miss for the young forward who has now gone seven league games without scoring.

Match Overview

• Final Score: Chelsea 1 – 0 Leicester City
• Goal: Marc Cucurella (60′)
• Penalty Miss: Cole Palmer (first half)

Chelsea’s performance was marked by frustration as they initially failed to capitalize on several opportunities. Palmer was awarded a penalty after being fouled by Leicester defender Victor Kristiansen, but his attempt was saved by Hermansen, marking the first time he had missed from the spot in the Premier League. This miss seemed to affect Chelsea’s confidence as they continued to press for a goal but struggled to find their rhythm.

Enzo Maresca’s Comments

Following the match, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca addressed Palmer’s missed penalty and his recent struggles in front of goal. He stated:

“Cole didn’t feel well during the night. People need to understand the effort he made to be there. He is a top player. Everything is normal now”. source

Maresca emphasized that despite Palmer’s current goal drought—having not scored in his last eight appearances—he remains a vital part of the team and is handling the pressure well. The manager expressed confidence that Palmer would return to form soon, highlighting his talent and work ethic during training sessions.

Implications of the Victory

This win allows Chelsea to leapfrog Manchester City into fourth place in the Premier League standings, with 49 points—two points behind Nottingham Forest and significantly trailing league leaders Liverpool. Conversely, Leicester City remains in dire straits, sitting second from bottom with only 17 points from their 27 matches, having lost 12 of their last 13 games.

In summary, while Chelsea celebrated a crucial win that bolstered their Champions League ambitions, concerns linger regarding Palmer’s form and the team’s overall attacking efficiency as they look to build momentum in the coming weeks.

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