Enzo Maresca provides Cole Palmer injury update after Chelsea star limps off vs Man Utd

Enzo Maresca has confirmed Cole Palmer was "not 100%" going into Chelsea's defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Blues were defeated 2-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro giving the home side the lead going into half-time. Robert Sanchez was sent off for Chelsea just five minutes into the contest, while Casemiro was giving his own marching orders in stoppage time.

Trevoh Chalobah did pull one back for Maresca's team on 80 minutes but Ruben Amorim's side were able to hold on. What will be a worry for Maresca, though was the fact Palmer was taken off after just 20 minutes.

The England international was replaced by Andrey Santos and went straight down the tunnel, before returning a short while later with an ice pack on his groin. Speaking after the game at Old Trafford, Maresca provided an update on his talisman.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Maresca said: "Cole this morning did a test to play this game. He was not 100%. It was a fantastic effort for the club, for his team-mates, for the team. Unfortunately he was not 100%. We need to start the game better. We cannot concede a red card at Old Trafford after three minutes."

On Sanchez's red card, the Italian added: "The red card changed the game after three minutes. After the red card for them, 10 v 10, it changed the game for us. We needed to start in a better way. It's a red card. [We should have had] a penalty for Joao."

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