Chelsea has decided to exclude Cole Palmer from their squad for the early stages of the UEFA Conference League as part of a strategy to manage the England star’s workload over a potentially grueling season that could extend until mid-July.
Palmer, who recently played in England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, has been left out alongside Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana. The decision aligns with Chelsea’s broader approach to load management, especially given the added demands of the expanded Club World Cup in the United States, scheduled from June 15 to July 13.
The 22-year-old Palmer has already had a demanding schedule, participating in 57 matches for both club and country last season. He has also withdrawn from England’s Nations League fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Finland this week to recover.
FIFPro, the global footballers’ union, has criticized football’s governing bodies for failing to provide adequate rest for players amid the expansion of tournaments. The union advocates for the implementation of a guaranteed minimum rest period and a cap on the number of games players can participate in.
The head of England’s Professional Footballers’ Association pointed to the benefits of rest periods, citing the improved performance of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who had a summer off from international duties.
Chelsea’s campaign in the new-look UEFA Conference League will see them face teams including Gent, Panathinaikos, FC Noah, Heidenheim, Astana, and Shamrock Rovers. Palmer could potentially be reintroduced to the squad for the latter stages of the competition, should Chelsea advance past the group phase.
