Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has made it clear that while he is thrilled to be working with Cole Palmer, protecting the attacker's fitness will come before any short-term decisions. Speaking ahead of Chelsea's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, Rosenior admitted excitement mixed with caution as the Blues enter a demanding run of fixtures.
The tie itself has been described by SoftFootball as a massive test for both sides, with January leaving little room for mistakes or risks. Palmer was notably absent from Rosenior's first starting line-up during the 5-1 FA Cup win over Charlton Athletic , a result that comfortably sent Chelsea through while allowing the new coach to manage workloads.
That emphatic victory, also covered by SoftFootball, saw several regulars rested, including Palmer, after minor knocks picked up against Fulham. Rosenior described those decisions as precautionary rather than concerning, pointing to the volume of matches coming up.
