Enzo Maresca makes Cole Palmer admission as Chelsea boss announces summer plans

Enzo Maresca has put Cole Palmer among the "very best" players in world football as the Chelsea head coach details his plans to use the 22-year-old in this summer's FIFA Club World Cup.

The Blues are taking part in the revamped Club World Cup in the summer over in the United States. In Group D with Chelsea are Flamengo, Club Leon and Esperance Sportive de Tunis, with their first game in Atlanta on June 16. Club Leon will be the opponents then as Chelsea kick off their tournament with Palmer looking likely to be used in America.

Palmer did not travel with the rest of the squad for the trip to America last summer for their pre-season preparation after his involvement with England in the Euros. However, the Three Lions international is expected to be involved this time around with more at stake. Maresca, speaking to FIFA, has been previewing Chelsea's involvement in the 32-team competition and has heaped praise on Palmer, defending his attacker in the midst of a poor run of form in front of goal over the last couple of months.

"I’ve said it more than once: Cole Palmer is up there with the very best, top players who can produce something at any moment, create something out of nothing," the Chelsea head coach said. "He wasn’t with me on the USA tour last summer, so it will also be a chance for him to experience the environment there and to introduce himself to [North] America."

Chelsea are one of 12 European teams to take part in the new-look Club World Cup in the USA. The Blues secured their place in the competition after being crowned European champions in 2021 with the 1-0 Champions League final win against Manchester City in Porto.

With the new feel and setup to the tournament, Chelsea can make history and become the first-ever winners of the revamped competition - something Maresca is using as motivation for him and his players. "Fantastic motivation," he said. "That's what you need to see it as, as a source of motivation.

"As I've told you before, when you're at Chelsea, your goal is to win as much as you can. And when we're there, that will be one of our goals: to try and win it."

He added: "I'm happy because - as you've just said - it's a tournament that brings together the 32 top teams [in the world]. So, it is pretty exciting to take part in such a huge competition. And you also have the opportunity to face other top coaches and some world-class teams."