Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca on Sunday evening explained the reason for the rather surprising substitution of key player Cole Palmer in the 1-0 win over Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer spurned a good chance to score in the first half as his penalty kick was saved but the Blues were fortunate to claim a vital win courtesy of a Marc Cucurella strike.
Facing the media at his press conference, Maresca said:
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“Cole, yesterday didn’t train because he didn’t feel well and during the night he didn’t feel well,” Maresca said.
“This morning, he woke up and said to me: ‘I want to be on the pitch because I want to help this club and this team play Champions League’.
“In the last two days, he was completely out with fever and diarrhoea. In the last 48 hours, he didn’t train and was very bad, with a fever and this bad feeling.
“But this morning, he asked to play the game and this shows how the players want to bring this club where it belongs.”
The England international was subbed by Tyrique George in the second half.
Chelsea’s victory sees them back in the top-four spot also aided by a recent win over Southampton.
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