Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has assured fans that Cole Palmer will be available for selection against Manchester United on Saturday evening. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Maresca confirmed Palmer’s fitness but revealed that the rest of the squad would undergo late assessments following their return from Germany.
“Yes, Cole is okay. We have a training session now where we will look at the players. We flew back yesterday [from Munich], so we need to assess some of the guys before we make a decision for the weekend,” Maresca explained.
The Blues, who fell to Bayern Munich in midweek Champions League action, are aiming to bounce back when they face Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side at Old Trafford. The defeat in Bavaria highlighted areas for improvement, and Maresca will be hoping his team can quickly rediscover their rhythm in domestic competition. However, the quick turnaround has left some uncertainty regarding player availability, with several players still being closely monitored by the club’s medical staff.
“We haven’t had a session since the game on Wednesday, we have some doubts but we will see after today’s training session,” Maresca added.
One name who could feature in the traveling squad is Marc Guiu. The young Spaniard, recalled earlier this month from his loan at Sunderland after Liam Delap’s injury, is being considered as an attacking option. The 18-year-old striker was brought back to Stamford Bridge earlier than expected, and Maresca has hinted that he could play an important role in the coming weeks as Chelsea deal with a packed fixture schedule.
“Marc Guiu is back and the reason why he is back is because we intend to use him,” Maresca said. “He is a good player and while he needs to do things better and can still improve, we know what Marc can offer us. For sure, we are going to use him.”
Guiu’s return provides another dimension to Chelsea’s frontline, especially with injuries limiting options in recent matches. His physical presence and eye for goal have impressed during his youth career, and his potential involvement at Old Trafford would be another step in his development. With Palmer fit and Guiu back in the fold, Chelsea supporters will be eager to see how Maresca balances experience with emerging talent in a crucial Premier League clash.
