Enzo Maresca names Cole Palmer as the first-choice penalty taker for Chelsea
According to Talk Sport, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that English winger Cole Palmer will be the first-choice penalty taker next season. In the absence of Palmer, Frenchman Christopher Nkunku has instead taken on the duty of penalty taker in the pre-season games. Chelsea winger Madueke also found the back of the net from the spot during the last pre-season match against Club America.
Last season, manager Mauricio Pochettino signed Cole Palmer from Manchester City on the last day of the summer transfer window and the 24-year-old thrived at the Stamford Bridge with his stellar performance. By scoring 22 goals for the Blues, he became the second top-scorer in the Premier League.
The impressive stint for the West London club has helped him to break into Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro. Despite losing the final, the English winger shined for the national side in the campaign and also scored in the final against Spain.
Palmer was the first-choice penalty taker for the West London club under Pochettino, but Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke squabbled multiple times for penalty with Palmer. The players were also criticised for their immature behaviour on the pitch. Maresca has clarified that Palmer will be his first-choice penalty taker for the upcoming season, and he also assigned Nkunku to take the kicks in the pre-season tour.
“For sure when Cole is back, because of last year and because I know Cole in terms of penalties, he’s very good. So for sure he’s the taker. But at the moment, Cole is not here. So we have to decide for another one and Christopher is the one.”
Maresca said. (h/t Talk Sport) The Italian gaffer also assigned Madueke to take the second penalty against Club America on Thursday.
Maresca to use Palmer as the key attacker
The West London club had their first win in the pre-season tour against Club America on Thursday. The Blues scored three goals in the pre-season friendly match under new manager Enzo Maresca. The Italian gaffer has already started implementing his ideas in the squad and he would also try the players in various positions in the ongoing pre-season tour.
Maresca would use English forward Palmer as the key player in the front line for the Blues in the upcoming season. Former manager Pochettino has used the winger as an attacking midfielder in the previous season, and the Englishman has flourished in his new role. But, the Italian gaffer would relocate Palmer to the right flank by including Kiernan Dewbury-Hall in the midfield department. The English midfielder has previous experience playing under Maresca at Leicester and he is one of the favourite midfielders of the tactician.
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Palmer has already proved his ability in the right flank with his performance for the national team in the Euro campaign. Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate has saved Palmer as a key weapon and used him in the crucial stages for England. The winger also thrived in the tournament with a spectacular performance. Maresca would anticipate the winger to continue his form at Stamford Bridge for the upcoming season.
Along with Palmer, French forward Nkunku would also be a key player in the attacking line for Maresca in the upcoming season. The Frenchman has already scored three goals in the pre-season games for the Blues and impressed the gaffer.
