Enzo Maresca Offers Controversial Explanation for Cole Palmer’s Chelsea Goal Drought

It’s been one of the most talked-about storylines at Stamford Bridge over the past few months: Cole Palmer’s alarming goal drought. Once hailed as Chelsea’s brightest attacking star, Palmer has now gone an eye-watering 16 games without finding the back of the net in all competitions. For a player who had the football world buzzing just a few months ago, it’s been a dramatic — and for many, confusing — falloff.

While frustration mounts among the Chelsea faithful, many fingers have been pointed directly at head coach Enzo Maresca. Critics argue that his rigid tactical structure has robbed Palmer, and others, of the creative spark that made the Blues look so dangerous earlier in the campaign. But Enzo Maresca, never one to shy away from addressing criticism, has pushed back — offering a very different, and somewhat controversial, explanation for Palmer’s barren run.

Maresca Insists Cole Palmer’s Goal Drought Is “Mental”

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures, Enzo Maresca was firm in his belief: this isn’t about tactics or technical deficiencies. In his eyes, it’s all in Palmer’s head.

“For sure, it’s mental,” Enzo Maresca explained. “I don’t think it’s tactical. I don’t think it’s technical because Cole is still the same player that scored, this season with us, 14 goals in the Premier League in the first 20 games.”

The Italian manager pointed out that nothing fundamental has changed at the club — not the system, not the philosophy, and certainly not the player himself.

“Cole is the same one. The style of football we play is the same one. The manager is the same one. The club is the same one. So nothing changes around Cole and Cole doesn’t change. It’s just mentally, in this moment.”

Maresca went on to suggest that Palmer’s desperation to help the team may ironically be part of the problem: “For sure, you can see that he is a little worried because he wants to help the team.”

It’s an intriguing assessment — and not one that everyone within the Chelsea community is ready to accept.

Fans Growing Restless With Enzo Maresca’s System

Maresca defends his use of Palmer / Ryan Pierse/GettyImages

Despite Enzo Maresca’s assurances, frustration is undeniably growing among the Stamford Bridge faithful. During the first half of the season, Palmer’s explosive form helped Chelsea climb into the conversation as dark horses for the Premier League title. His creativity, goal threat, and connection with teammates made him a standout performer, not just for Chelsea but across the entire league.

Since the turn of the year, however, Chelsea’s attacking play has often looked laboured and predictable. Critics argue that Enzo Maresca’s rigid positional play has shackled his forward players, forcing them into tight, pre-defined patterns rather than allowing the free-flowing, instinctive football that players like Palmer thrive on.

It’s a view echoed by some of Chelsea’s former players and pundits, who have suggested that Enzo Maresca’s system, while theoretically sound, doesn’t always play to the strengths of his most talented individuals.

Still, Enzo Maresca remains steadfast in his belief that his tactical framework is not the problem.

Maresca Defends Chelsea’s Style of Play

“We try always to set up our game to put our best player in condition to be dangerous,” Enzo Maresca said when pressed on whether his system might be part of the issue. “We have done that since we started. We are doing that every game. It’s the same for Cole.”

Maresca emphasized that Palmer has continued to find himself in good goalscoring positions — the only difference now being the final touch or finish.

“If you go back game by game, he had at least, every game, one or two chances,” Enzo Maresca continued. “So, it’s not about how the team is playing.”

For Enzo Maresca, the narrative that Chelsea’s style of play has changed dramatically is simply a false one.

“If you want to see it as the team playing a different way, you’ve seen it that way, but the reality is not that. The reality is that Cole is the same, the style of play is the same, the manager is the same, the club is the same.”

“It’s just football that, in this moment, he is missing the goal. No more than that.”

The Weight of Expectation on Young Shoulders

There’s no denying that expectation has skyrocketed for Cole Palmer over the past 18 months. His breakthrough at Manchester City was impressive enough, but his move to Chelsea — combined with his early-season form — catapulted him into a different stratosphere.

At just 22 years old, Palmer is already seen as the poster boy for Chelsea’s future. With that kind of responsibility comes pressure, and Enzo Maresca’s comments hint at a young player who may be struggling to shoulder the weight of those expectations.

The mental side of football is often overlooked in these conversations, yet history is filled with examples of young stars who have hit similar rough patches when the spotlight burned brightest.

If Enzo Maresca is right, then perhaps what Palmer needs most right now isn’t a tactical overhaul — it’s time, support, and maybe a little less pressure from the outside.

What’s Next for Cole Palmer and Chelsea?

The reality is that Chelsea desperately need Cole Palmer back at his best if they are to salvage their season. With crucial games on the horizon, and European qualification still hanging in the balance, the Blues cannot afford to have their talismanic forward firing blanks for much longer.

For Palmer himself, the focus will be on rediscovering his rhythm — and his confidence. Goals often come in streaks, and one moment of magic could easily open the floodgates again.

Meanwhile, for Enzo Maresca, the pressure is on to not only manage his young star but to deliver performances that restore some of the early-season optimism that surrounded his appointment.

Should Palmer end his drought soon, Enzo Maresca’s controversial theory will look all the more credible. But if the barren run continues, the calls for tactical changes — or even managerial changes — will only grow louder.

Final Thoughts: Is It Really All in the Mind?

Enzo Maresca’s defence of Cole Palmer is both admirable and telling. Rather than throwing his player under the bus or blaming external factors, he has put his faith firmly in Palmer’s ability to overcome this rough patch mentally.

It’s a risky stance. If it pays off, it could be a masterstroke in man-management, showing trust and understanding in a young player during a tough time. If it doesn’t, Enzo Maresca will find himself under even more scrutiny.

Whatever happens next, one thing is clear: Cole Palmer’s journey — and Enzo Maresca’s faith in him — will be one of the defining stories of Chelsea’s season.