Chelsea
Maresca to Manage Cole Palmer’s Minutes as Chelsea Head to Elland Road
Maresca confirms Palmer is available for Leeds but will be eased back while his fitness returns soon
Enzo Maresca has confirmed Cole Palmer is fit and will travel for Chelsea’s midweek fixture at Elland Road, but the manager stressed the priority is managing the forward’s minutes as he returns to full fitness. “He is available,” Maresca confirmed ahead of the midweek trip to Elland Road. “He was on the bench last game. With 10 players, it was more complicated for Cole because he needs to come back in terms of fitness condition. The idea is to give him some minutes until he can play 90 minutes.”
The measured approach follows a disrupted start to Palmer’s campaign. After playing the full 90 minutes on the opening weekend of the season the 23-year-old was forced out for the next two weeks with a groin problem. When he returned in September against Brentford, Maresca chose not to risk him from the first whistle. That second start lasted just 21 minutes before Palmer was withdrawn with a recurrence of the same issue.
Maresca framed the handling of Palmer as part of a wider fitness discussion within the squad. “Everyone is fine,” Maresca began his prematch press conference on Tuesday, before listing two players who are not so fine. “Roméo [Lavia] is still recovering,” Maresca warned of the injury-riddled midfielder. “Dário [Essugo], he was O.K. and started some sessions with us. He now needs to slow down a little bit. He will be out again, hopefully nothing important.”
Both Lavia and Essugo have spent time in Chelsea’s treatment room this season. The Belgian has missed the past month with a muscular strain while Essugo is yet to make an appearance this season. Against the backdrop of those absences, Maresca’s plan is clear: reintroduce Palmer cautiously and build his load back toward a full 90 minutes rather than rush him straight into lengthy starts.
Chelsea
Mourinho reveals he was once set for Ferguson’s Manchester United role
Mourinho says he was set to replace Ferguson at United before changing course to return to Chelsea instead.
José Mourinho has disclosed that he was initially due to become Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Manchester United in 2013, before changing course and returning to Chelsea.
The revelation adds a fresh layer to one of the most scrutinised managerial transitions in recent Premier League history. David Moyes was ultimately chosen to follow Ferguson at Old Trafford after being personally selected by the departing manager. The appointment earned Moyes the nickname “The Chosen One”, but it proved to be a short-lived reign, ending before he completed a full season as United struggled to maintain the standards of the Ferguson era.
For years, that decision has been viewed as a major misstep by Ferguson and the Manchester United hierarchy. Mourinho’s version of events now presents a different path, one in which he was the intended successor before the deal collapsed.
On the new Netflix series Mourinho, the current Real Madrid manager said: “When I left Real Madrid, I signed to go to Manchester United after Sir Alex.”
Ferguson, who also appears in the docuseries, backed that account and described how close the arrangement came to being finalised.
“I sat him [Mourinho] down and explained the situation,” the 84-year-old claims. “As far as I was concerned, he was accepting. And then, within hours, it changed.”
Mourinho said he then reversed his decision and chose Chelsea, the club where he had already won two Premier League titles earlier in his career. Ferguson recalled the moment the change became clear: “One night, he phoned me and he was crying and he says: ‘Alex, I can’t take it. I’ve given my word to Chelsea and I’m not going to break my word.’
“The reason he gave to me, I could understand, but I was disappointed.”
Mourinho explained the choice in emotional terms: “One thing is love for football, another thing is love for a certain club,” Mourinho reasoned as he explained his decision to choose Chelsea over United..
“I think this is more powerful than love for football and fundamentally, after Real Madrid , I needed to feel that I’m loved.
“For me to lose the chance to be the coach to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson was dramatic, but I don’t regret [it] because it was a decision that I made with my heart.”
The disclosure leaves open the view that a different ending at Madrid might have altered Manchester United’s post-Ferguson years.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s centre-back reshuffle gathers pace after Chalobah exit
Chelsea begin reshaping their defence as Chalobah leaves, with several centre-backs now facing uncertain futures.
Chelsea have taken a first visible step towards Xabi Alonso’s plan to trim the centre-back group to “four or five” after agreeing the sale of Trevoh Chalobah to Como for $41.5 million (£30 million).
The academy graduate, who spent 18 years at the club, has now brought his Chelsea journey to an end and is set for Serie A. In a farewell message on social media, Chalobah wrote: “After 18 years, it’s time to say goodbye to Chelsea ,” Chalobah wrote on social media. “I arrived as a nine-year-old with a dream, and I leave as a man who’s lived that dream in ways I never imagined.
“This journey tested me, lifted me and strengthened me. To every teammate, coach, staff member and supporter, thank you for shaping me. I gave everything I had, and I’m proud of the person this club helped me become.
“To the young players: the path won’t always be smooth. But stay ready, stay positive and keep your faith. God’s timing is always right. Thank you all, truly, with love and gratitude.”
Even with Chalobah gone, Chelsea still have nine centre backs on the books. Lacroix is expected to remain after his recent $70 million (£52 million) move, while Levi Colwill is viewed as untouchable and should play a major part this season after recovering from an ACL injury.
The rest of the group is less settled. Wesley Fofana is likely to stay because of his huge price tag, but Tosin Adarabioyo has been linked with an exit as Chelsea look to streamline the squad. Axel Disasi and Benoît Badiashile are both available for transfer, with Disasi attracting interest in England and Napoli believed to be leading the chase for Badiashile.
There is also uncertainty around Mamadou Sarr and Aarón Anselmino. Sarr was removed from Chelsea’s starting lineup against Johor Darul Ta’zim for reasons that were not explained, while Anselmino went off injured, which may affect his next move.
Josh Acheampong is another case requiring a decision. Chelsea hold very high hopes for the 20-year-old, but last season left supporters wanting more after he managed only 663 Premier League minutes.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s fringe players fall short in five-goal draw with Johor Darul Ta’zim
Chelsea’s youth-heavy side drew 3-3 with JDT, as Delap scored twice but questions remained.
Chelsea ended their Asian preseason tour with a 3-3 draw against Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim on Sunday, a result that left several fringe players still searching for a convincing statement.
The opening period was shaky, but Liam Delap levelled matters before the interval after winning and converting a penalty with a powerful finish. Jamie Gittens then earned another spot-kick on the hour, and Delap dispatched that too. Even so, JDT responded quickly, with a deflected free kick striking Delap and looping beyond Gabriel Slonina.
Chelsea were then nearly beaten by Bérgson’s low drive, before an own goal arrived after Mykhailo Mudryk’s cross to spare them late frustration.
Xabi Alonso selected a very young side, though Tosin Adarabioyo, aged 28, was still used in the centre of a three-man defence. He was the senior figure in the team, but the match did little to support that role. Tosin looked uneasy in a high line, failed to track the JDT move that led to the opening goal, and later lost his composure in an exchange with Kevin Medina, who had also impressed against Chelsea towards the end of 2025.
The armband went to 21-year-old Dário Essugo instead, underlining the youth of the team. Up front, the contest offered Delap and Nicolas Jackson another chance to show where they fit in a squad that now appears to have one spot left alongside João Pedro, with Emegha injured.
Delap’s two penalties were strong, but the broader impression was of an opportunity not fully taken. Jackson was tidier in possession and looked more settled in Alonso’s structure, yet he too failed to meet expectations.
Chelsea’s discipline also looked fragile. Last season’s concerns had prompted moves for Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, although neither featured here. Without those calmer heads, Chelsea appeared tense and were repeatedly dragged into confrontations, something Alonso would have wanted to avoid.
