Chelsea team news for Man Utd as Enzo Maresca issues Cole Palmer update

Enzo Maresca has given an update on Cole Palmer ahead of the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United on Saturday.

Palmer played the full 90 minutes against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night, scoring in the 3-1 defeat. That was the first time he had completed an entire match since sustaining an injury last month.

The player's return came as a second-half substitute during the 2-2 draw with Brentford in their last league game. However, over a month after picking up that problem while warming up to play West Ham United, the issue appears to be over.

"Cole is OK," Maresca replied when asked whether his player was. The head coach then shared further team news before the weekend's match during his press conference on Friday morning.

"We have a session now," he said, "we flew back yesterday. We need to assess some players; we have some doubts. We didn't have a session since Wednesday's game, but we will see."

Maresca did divulge more when asked about Alejandro Garnacho facing his former club for the first time. "In the last two games, he was very good when he came on," the Chelsea coach said. "So we are happy with the way he has adapted to our style and what we want from the winger. I think he is ready to start."

Estevao, however, is a player who needs more time. "Estevao can be great in all of the attacking positions," Maresca acknowledged when asked about his potential. "His talent is very good, he is a top player, but he is 18. He needs time."

Maresca, meanwhile, clarified that Marc Guiu is part of their plans. "The reason why he is back [from being on loan at Sunderland] is because we intend to use him," the coach said. "He needs to do things better and improve things, but for sure, we are going to use him."

That is not the case for Axel Disasi or Raheem Sterling, though. "I've been in Raheem's situation and Axel's situation as a player," Maresca said.

"I know it is not the best feeling. You want to play games, but for different reasons, the situation is the way it is at the moment. The club is giving them the opportunity to work in the right way. That's all I can say.

"I know it is something you like and want to talk about. It's not just Chelsea, it's every club in the world.

"When, for any reason, the player and the club do not find any solution, you give the player the tools to train, but if you are not involved in the squad, you are not involved in the squad."

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