Europa conference league, Chelsea to ditch Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer has been omitted from Chelsea’s squad for the early stages of the UEFA Conference League to manage his playing time, given the possibility of a prolonged season extending to mid-July. Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana are also missing, reportedly due to similar “load management” concerns, as Chelsea will participate in the expanded Club World Cup in the U.S

Palmer, who scored in England’s Euro 2024 final loss to Spain just 33 days before the Premier League season began, has withdrawn from England’s Nations League fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Finland this week.

FIFPro, the global footballers’ union, criticized football’s governing bodies for not providing adequate rest to players amid expanding tournament schedules. The union is advocating for a guaranteed minimum rest period and a cap on the number of games players can participate in.

Palmer played 57 matches last season for both club and country. The head of the Professional Footballers’ Association highlighted the benefits of rest by noting the strong performances of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who had a summer break from international duties.

Chelsea will compete against Gent, Panathinaikos, FC Noah, Heidenheim, Astana, and Shamrock Rovers in the revised UEFA Conference League group stage. Palmer may be included in the squad for the latter stages if Chelsea advances.