Enzo Maresca has ruled Cole Palmer out of Tuesday's trip to Cardiff as he set his sights on winning the Carabao Cup with Chelsea.
Palmer scored Chelsea’s opening goal against Everton on Saturday in the Premier League, before being substituted before the hour mark, but he will be rested against the League One leaders in Tuesday’s quarter-final.
It comes as Chelsea continue to carefully manage Palmer’s minutes, following the England international’s staggered return from his recurring groin injury, which was further complicated last month when he suffered a freak toe injury while at his home.
Maresca said on Monday that Palmer is “not available to play two games in three days”, with the Chelsea head coach set to ring the changes and give game time to some of his lesser-used squad players, potentially including attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte, who is on loan from Brighton.
Asked whether Palmer would feature at the Cardiff City Stadium, Maresca said: “I already said many times, Cole is one of the players that deserves to be protected.
“He is not available to play two games in three days.”
Asked about potentially winning the Carabao Cup, Maresca said: “It's something that we want to achieve for the fans.
“It's a club with all its history. We need to do our best tomorrow to try and achieve the third semi-final in 18 months.”
Chelsea last season won both the Conference League and Club World Cup in their first campaign under Maresca’s management.
