Jose Mourinho has played down Cole Palmer’s absence from Chelsea’s clash with Benfica, insisting his side still face a huge test.
The ‘Special One‘ is set for a reunion with his former club when the Portuguese giants travel to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Wednesday.
AFPMourinho has taken charge of three games so far at Benfica, winning twice and drawing once[/caption]Following his sacking by Fenerbahce in August, Mourinho made an instant return to management at his first ever club, Benfica, earlier this month, with the Chelsea clash just his fourth game in charge.
And he has been handed a boost in the build up, with the news that the Blues will be without their talisman Palmer for the clash.
Head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed on Friday that the Englishman will play no part in his side’s next three matches after suffering a flare up of a lingering groin strain.
Palmer was forced off 21 minutes into Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United last Saturday, having failed to shake off the muscle issue which has troubled him this season.
This will no doubt have been well received at Benfica, with the playmaker undoubtedly the Londoners’ main creative outlet.
How did Mourinho react to the Palmer news?
News of Palmer’s injury was quickly passed on to Mourinho in a press conference, who admitted it was a welcome boost.
Reacting to it in a press conference, the Portuguese said: “I’m happy with that. He’s a phenomenal player.”
However, the 62-year-old refused to get his hopes up too much, as he admitted Chelsea still possess plenty of other attacking options.
Looking ahead to the clash, Mourinho claimed that Palmer’s absence is nowhere near as big an issue for the Blues, compared to an injury to any of his key players at Benfica.
He said of Chelsea: “I think they have a good, good team, in a way that if Cole Palmer doesn’t play it’s not a problem for them.
Mourinho couldn’t hide a smile after discovering that Palmer will play no part in the Champions League clash The Englishman has been ruled out Chelsea’s matches against Brighton, Benfica and LiverpoolAFP via Getty“If [Heorhiy] Sudakov or [Vangelis] Pavlidis doesn’t play I am in big trouble. But for Chelsea – no problem.”
Despite Mourinho’s comments, Palmer’s importance to Chelsea is clear for all to see.
Since joining the Blues in 2023, the England international has registered 38 goals and 20 assists in 98 Premier League games, as well as guiding them to both Conference League and Club World Cup glory.
Mourinho was quick to complement the Blues on their success in the latter, as he highlighted how the club has changed since his two separate stints in charge in west London.
Following his appointment by former owner Roman Abramovich in 2004, the iconic manager led the club to back-to-back league titles.
Then in his second spell, between 2014 and 2016, Mourinho delivered another league title in 2015, as well as League Cup glory.
Mourinho is a Premier League greatGettyBut with Chelsea failing to lift the Premier League since 2017, and now owned by Todd Boehly, in recent years the Blues have struggled to mount a serious title challenge.
And while Mourinho admitted it had been hard to watch the club struggle in recent years, he feels his former side are once again in a good place under current boss Maresca.
He said: “Abramovich’s Chelsea – my Chelsea – we built that lasted many, many years, was a winning club.
“It was winning with me and then with [Carlo] Ancelotti, [Antonio] Conte, Chelsea was a winning machine, every season it was winning.
“Big change, incredible investment, but it was a period of a couple of years where it looked like they lost their direction, too many players, too many millions, an accumulation of players and a team without a clear philosophy so for a couple of years it was hard for someone who loves the club.
“Maresca arrived and step by step the puzzle was made, the Conference League is a fantastic cup for a team like that to win easily. It gives the club the culture of winning, it doesn’t matter what.
“Then they go to the States [for the Club World Cup and come back with a big badge on their chest.”
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