Michael Owen, a former Real Madrid and Liverpool striker, has raised concerns about Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s decision to use Cole Palmer in a wide position.
Owen believes that Maresca is not making the most of Palmer’s abilities by playing him out of position.
Last season, under former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, Palmer was a standout performer for the Blues.
The young England international played primarily as a No.10, where he thrived, scoring 27 goals and providing 15 assists.
His central role under Pochettino allowed him to be heavily involved in Chelsea’s attacking play, contributing significantly to the team’s success.
However, in Maresca’s first Premier League match in charge against Manchester City last weekend, Palmer was positioned on the flank, a move that Owen believes limits his effectiveness.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Owen questioned Chelsea’s decision to move Palmer from his preferred position, highlighting the abundance of players available for the wide role.
“Chelsea have bought so many players that can play in that position, haven’t they?” Owen remarked
“You’ve got players who aren’t even in the squad who can play in that position too, like Raheem Sterling. I’m sure the manager watched how good he [Palmer] was last season and the position he played in and everything else.”
Owen went on to emphasize the importance of playing a team’s best players in their optimal positions, suggesting that Maresca’s tactical decision might not be the best way to utilize Palmer’s talents.
“And you would just think that when you’re picking a team, your best players play in their best positions and you fit around them. You’re not going to push your best players into unfamiliar positions,” Owen continued.
Before Chelsea’s match against Manchester City, Maresca hinted at Palmer’s versatility, stating that the player could be effective in multiple roles across the front line.
Despite this, Owen believes that Palmer would be more impactful if he were positioned centrally, where he could see more of the ball and influence the game more directly.