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Chelsea FCCole Palmer InjuryEnzo Maresca

Cole Palmer Out For 6 More Weeks; Maresca Admits He Was ‘Wrong’ About Chelsea Star’s Return

Shivansh Rana | 3 min read | 3 weeks ago | Oct 18, 2025 08:15 pm IST
Cole Palmer Out For 6 More Weeks; Maresca Admits He Was ‘Wrong’ About Chelsea Star’s Return

Here’s the thing, it’s the news no Chelsea fan wanted to hear. Cole Palmer is set for an additional six weeks on the sidelines due to that nagging groin injury. In a surprisingly frank admission on October 17, 2025, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the massive setback and even told reporters he was “wrong” in his earlier, more optimistic assessment of Palmer’s return.

Key Takeaways

  • Cole Palmer is sidelined for a further six weeks with a groin injury.
  • His expected return is now pushed back to late November or early December 2025.
  • Palmer will miss crucial games against Tottenham, Arsenal, Ajax, and Barcelona.
  • Manager Enzo Maresca publicly admitted he was “wrong” about his initial recovery timeline.
  • The injury will not require surgery, with the focus on a full recovery.

So, What Exactly Happened?

This whole mess started back in pre-season. The groin issue first surfaced in August 2025, forcing Palmer to withdraw from the lineup before a match against West Ham. Yeah, it’s been lingering for a while.

But it got much worse during the game against Manchester United on September 20. Just 20 minutes in, Palmer aggravated the injury, leading to this extended period out of action. Now, Maresca has put a clear, and frankly depressing, timeline on it. We’re looking at late November or even early December before we see him on the pitch again.

Maresca’s Brutal Honesty

Look, you don’t often see managers be this direct. Maresca held his hands up. He admitted his previous hope for a quicker return was off the mark. “I was wrong,” he stated, explaining that the club wants to ensure Palmer is fully healed before he comes back.

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He also made it clear that surgery isn’t on the table right now. The medical staff are focused on recovery, with Maresca noting they are “not magicians.” It’s a significant blow, especially considering how vital Palmer has become to this Chelsea squad.

The Huge Hole Palmer Leaves

Let’s not downplay this. Losing Palmer is a disaster for Chelsea. He was the team’s top scorer and top assister last season. Maresca himself described him as a “unique” player who is incredibly “difficult” to replace. That says it all, doesn’t it?

His absence will be felt in some massive fixtures. He’s set to miss around nine matches, including:

  • Premier League clashes with Tottenham and Arsenal.
  • Champions League showdowns against Ajax and Barcelona.

And to make matters worse, Chelsea is already dealing with a stacked injury list. With Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile also out until December and doubts over Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Pedro Neto, things are looking tough. How will Chelsea cope without their main man? That’s the big question on everyone’s mind.