Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Fulham, and the manager admits it will require yet another tactical reshuffle.

“No, I think we have been the team with more changes in the entire season, last season. So I’m not looking just for two players to play always. I’m looking for a different solution. For sure they can play together, but it’s the game plan that’s demanding if it’s one, two or both, we’ll see.”

Maresca was responding to a question about whether fans can expect to see more of João Pedro and Liam Delap playing together following Palmer’s absence. While he didn’t rule it out, his emphasis was clear: the system dictates the lineup, not the other way around.

Palmer’s influence on this Chelsea side is undeniable, but last week’s 5-1 victory without him showed that the Blues are not entirely reliant on the young playmaker. Maresca was pleased with how his team adapted, though he stressed that Palmer remains a key figure.

He said: “For sure, 100%. And I will say again, we are a much, much, much better team with Cole, no doubt. But when Cole is not in the game, we need to find a different solution.

“Last week we found a different solution, and hopefully we can find tomorrow, again, a different solution.”

The message is clear: Chelsea must remain flexible. With Palmer ruled out, Maresca will once again turn to his squad depth and tactical versatility to deliver another strong performance against Fulham.