Liputan6.com, Jakarta Chelsea's star midfielder, Cole Palmer, was surprisingly withdrawn from the starting lineup just before the crucial match against West Ham United.
The incident occurred just minutes before the kick-off whistle at London Stadium on Friday, August 22, 2025.
Palmer reportedly felt serious discomfort in his groin muscle during the final warm-up session on the pitch.
The medical team and coaches quickly decided not to force him to play, to avoid the risk of further injury.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that this was purely a precautionary measure.
Palmer's physical condition had not been at its peak in the days leading up to the match, according to the manager.
Cole Palmer's Injury and Current Condition
Cole Palmer was initially named in Chelsea's starting XI for the crucial match against West Ham United.
However, he was removed from the team after feeling something was wrong during the pre-match warm-up.
Manager Enzo Maresca emphasized that the decision to leave Palmer out was purely in the player's best interest.
Maresca revealed that Palmer had not been at full fitness for four to five days before the West Ham match.
He even played with the groin injury in the previous match against Crystal Palace, despite not being in optimal condition.
Palmer showed great dedication to playing, but the coaching staff did not want to risk a more serious injury.
Palmer's injury is suspected to be a groin injury, according to the ESPN.
During the warm-up, Palmer experienced similar symptoms again, leading the medical team and coaches to decide not to force him to play.
What Caused Cole Palmer's Injury?
Speaking after the game, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said Palmer had been taken out of the team as a precaution.
"In the last four or five days he was not 100 percent and tonight in the warmup he felt again something so we prefer to not start with him, not take any risk to make it worse," he told Sky Sports.
"We'll see in the next hours if it's something important or not.
'It's a groin problem," he added.
"Already the Palace game he was not 100 percent for, but he has tried to make a big effort for the club, for the team, for the fans, because he is really keen about the team. Tonight he tried again but it was not very good."
Cole Palmer Brief Profile
Cole Jermaine Palmer, born on May 6, 2002, is a 23-year-old attacking midfielder or winger.
Standing at around 1.85 m (6 ft 7 in), the English player is known for being left-footed and is considered one of the best attacking midfielders in the world today.
Palmer began his youth career at NJ Wythenshawe before joining Manchester City in 2010.
He then progressed to Manchester City's senior team (2020–2023) and joined Chelsea in 2023.
At Chelsea, he wore the number 10 shirt and made 71 league appearances, scoring 37 goals, as of August 17, 2025.
Internationally, Palmer has represented England at various youth levels and won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2023.
He also made his senior debut for England in 2023.
His achievements include being part of the Manchester City squad that won the continental treble in 2023, as well as winning the Premier League Young Player of the Season and PFA Fans' Player of the Year in his debut season at Chelsea (2023–2024).
He even becomes the key player for Chelsea to win two prestigious achievements this year: UEFA Europa Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup.