Chelsea has decided not to include Cole Palmer in their squad for the initial stages of the UEFA Conference League, aiming to manage the England international's playing time for what could be an extended season. The decision comes as Chelsea prepares for an expanded Club World Cup in the United States, scheduled from June 15 to July 13.
In addition to Palmer, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana have also been excluded from the squad, reportedly due to "load management" considerations. Palmer, who scored in England's Euro 2024 final loss to Spain just 33 days before the Premier League season began, has withdrawn from the England squad for upcoming Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
FIFPro, the global footballers' union, criticized football's governing bodies on Thursday, stating that they are "failing to meet their duty of care" by not providing players with adequate rest as tournaments expand. The union advocates for a guaranteed minimum amount of rest and possibly a cap on the number of games players can participate in.
Last season, Palmer played 57 matches for both club and country. The head of England's Professional Footballers' Association highlighted the success of Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, both of whom had a summer off from international duties, as evidence of the benefits of rest.
Chelsea is set to face Gent, Panathinaikos, FC Noah, Heidenheim, Astana, and Shamrock Rovers in the new league phase of UEFA's third-tier European competition. Palmer could potentially be added to the squad for the latter stages if Chelsea advances.
