Chelsea have excluded Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia from their Conference League Squad for the season.
Chelsea qualified for the UEFA Conference League proper last week, after defeating Swiss side Servette 3-2 on aggregate in a Play-off tie.
While the side was able to call upon the talents of Palmer in both legs of the Play-off, they won’t be able to do so in the next phase against the likes of Gent, Astana and Shamrock Rovers.
Palmer has started all three of Chelsea’s Premier League games this season and also scored a controversial goal against Wolves that many feel shouldn’t have stood,
The 22-year-old forward has already cemented himself as one of Enzo Maresca’s most important players.
Chelsea leave Palmer out of Conference League squad
For this reason, Maresca has seemingly chosen to hold Palmer, Fofana and Lavia back from the UEFA Conference League, as Fabrizio Romano explains.
According to the transfer insider, Palmer, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia have all been left out of the European squad due to ‘load management.
The Blues’ season could finish as late as July 2025, with a summer FIFA Club World Cup on the horizon. With this in mind, several young players are expected to have their minutes managed to stave off injuries.
Palmer’s, recent injury scare could also be an issue. causing Chelsea to take precaution on his game congestion.
In the case of Fofana and Lavia, injuries are a huge concern, with both players having spent extended time on the sidelines in recent years.
