Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has spoken about the challenges Cole Palmer faces in the Premier League, where he is increasingly being targeted by opponents with man-marking tactics.

Maresca believes Palmer must adapt to this attention, a testament to his growing reputation as a key player.

Maresca acknowledged that the 22-year-old forward should expect teams to assign a man to neutralize his impact in games, stating, “I am ready for that but Cole, I don’t know if he’s ready!

“The next step for Cole is not to get frustrated when teams mark him man to man, because all of the best players in the world are marked man to man.”

The Italian manager highlighted how Palmer’s rising prominence means opposing teams are paying more attention to him compared to last season.

“Probably it was the opposite (last season). They weren’t too worried about marking Cole. They are now worried because of last year so now he has to get used to it. The next step is going to be more difficult but he can do it,” Maresca added.

Chelsea’s tactical response to these situations involves strategic adjustments to Palmer’s positioning.

This was evident in their recent 2-1 victory over Newcastle, where Maresca moved Palmer to the left-hand side of the pitch to avoid Joelinton’s marking.

On this adjustment, Maresca explained: “The only thing we can do is what we did against Newcastle.

“The reason he was playing on the other side was because Joelinton would have been marking him man to man.

“We tried to move him and give him some different options and space. But he’s going to be marked man to man in so many games.”

As Chelsea prepare for their clash at Old Trafford against Manchester United—where they aim for their first win since Sir Alex Ferguson’s era—Palmer could once again find himself the focus of intense man-marking.

Maresca’s insight makes it clear that adapting to such situations is essential for Palmer as he continues to develop and establish himself among the top tier of footballers.