Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca had much to say before their Carabao Cup game vs Lincoln City at the LNER Stadium. He walked reporters through the latest on injuries, squad depth, and what worries him most going into the tie. The Blues return to cup action after a tough loss away. Palmer being injured is also one of the many issues that could potentially turn the tide.
Cole Palmer: Key worry
Palmer came off after about 20-21 minutes in the Manchester United match with his old groin injury flaring up again. Maresca said he was not 100 percent but pushed to help the team. The coach doesn’t believe surgery is needed at this moment. Still, Palmer is day-by-day. Whether he plays vs Lincoln is unclear. “Medical staff didn’t mention surgery… day by day to see how he is.”
Palmer and More Missing, Some Hope
Two others making progress are Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia. Both trained recently, which Maresca called “good news,” though they won’t be ready for the Lincoln game. The rest of the squad are recovering after a heavy schedule — Club World Cup, Premier League, Champions League. Some players like Caicedo and Joao Pedro are managing small issues, but largely the rest are okay.
Manchester United vs Chelsea : Loss Shapes Mindset
Maresca reflected on Saturday’s 2-1 loss at United. He blamed the red card early on. Playing with ten men from nearly the start made the game almost impossible to control. He feels those moments matter. As for being title contenders, Maresca was careful. He said they made progress last season and have closed gaps. This season’s main focus is improving, step by step.
Chelsea vs Lincoln City : Dangerous opponent despite the gap
Although Lincoln are in League One, Maresca warned this is the kind of match that can trap big teams. He said these games worry him more than others because slipping up is easy. Some academy players may feature. The Blues are expected to dominate, but they must earn the win. Lincoln have shown good form this season, so complacency could cost Chelsea.
Author’s Insight
What stands out is how fragile Chelsea still are. Losing Palmer or having delays with Badiashile and Lavia only expose gaps. Maresca’s comments show a leader aware of these faults, but also one trying to balance hope and caution. For Chelsea to win vs Lincoln, they need sharpness, care, and focus. If the lineup includes academy players, that’s fine — but the mindset has to be right. Otherwise, even a strong side can be beaten in a match where expectations are all on them.
