Palmer was easily the Bluesâ best player last season, scoring 27 goals and making 15 assists following a big money move from Manchester City.
It was therefore a shock to see the England international have little impact in Chelseaâs opening game of the season on Sunday â a 2-0 home defeat to the Citizens.
Under Mauricio Pochettino, Palmer mainly played as a No.10 and even when he started on the right wing he drifted inside, but in Marescaâs first match in charge, the attacking midfielder stayed out wide more.
That tactical decision baffled former Liverpool and Manchester United striker Owen, who said on Premier League Productions: âChelsea have bought so many players that can play in that position, havenât they?
âYouâve got players who arenât even in the squad who can play in that position too like Raheem Sterling. Iâm sure the manager watched how good he [Palmer] was last season and the position he played in and everything else.
âAnd you would just think that when youâre picking a team, your best players play in their best positions and you fit around them. Youâre not going to push your best players into unfamiliar positions.
âIf I was the manager, heâd be first on the teamsheet in his favoured position and then Iâd work around it but it seems like theyâve bought so many players that theyâre trying to shuffle the pack.
âWe heard the manager before the game say Cole Palmer can play in any of those positions around the front and Iâm sure he can but I would prefer him to be at his best and getting more of the ball in a more central area.â
Former Chelsea player and manager Hoddle concurred, saying: âI donât like to see [Palmer so wide]. Start out wide and be allowed to drift in.
âIn the second half, Iâm not sure if it was the manager or he just said to himself, âIâm going to get the ballâ. You need him on the ball!
âThat means he needs to be in the hub of the team where people are feeding him and heâs getting the ball twice as much. Things will happen off him.â
Despite the result, Maresca was upbeat after the game so it remains to be seen whether heâll switch up Palmerâs tactics for Chelseaâs trip to Wolves on Sunday.
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