Enzo Maresca gives injury update on Chelsea players ahead of Brentford clash

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has provided the latest team news regarding injuries ahead of their highly anticipated London derby clash against Brentford.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Friday, September 12, 2025, Maresca addressed questions surrounding the fitness of key players Cole Palmer and Liam Delap. Delap, who was forced off in the opening minutes of Chelsea’s recent game against Fulham, has been ruled out for an extended period.

“Liam Delap will be out for 10 to 12 weeks. Unfortunately, it’s a long recovery ahead for him,” Maresca confirmed, expressing his disappointment at losing the young striker for such a lengthy spell.

He then turned attention to Cole Palmer, whose return has been a topic of interest among supporters. “Cole Palmer trained with the group for the first time yesterday, although not the entire session. We still have another session this afternoon, and we’ll test him again to see how he feels. If he responds well, he might be available; otherwise, he won’t feature tomorrow,” Maresca explained.

The coach further emphasized that Palmer is still in the recovery phase rather than just being carefully managed: “It’s about him healing fully from the injury. Once he is back, we’ll need to manage his workload carefully because of the number of games coming up.”

Maresca also addressed questions about the ongoing case involving 74 charges brought against Chelsea by the FA. However, he kept his response brief: “From what I know, the club is satisfied with how the process is going. Personally, I have nothing more to add. I genuinely don’t know the details, and my focus remains on what I can control — matters on the pitch.”

With a busy fixture schedule ahead, Chelsea fans will be eager to see Palmer return to full fitness as soon as possible, especially with the squad already stretched by injuries. The clash against Brentford will therefore be a true test of the Blues’ depth and resilience under Maresca’s leadership.