Chelsea’s League Cup Defeat to Arsenal Raises Questions: Is Cole Palmer Eyeing Man United

 Chelsea’s League Cup campaign resumed with another 1–0 defeat to Arsenal, ending their title hopes. Objectively speaking, the team simply lacked the strength. Chelsea may have a deep squad, but the gap between starters and substitutes is too wide compared to Arsenal’s more balanced roster. Tactically, Rossignia chose to defend in the first half to wear down Arsenal’s stamina, only bringing on his main attacking players after the 60th minute. The reason he didn’t dare to go toe-to-toe early was Arsenal’s superior attacking power and Chelsea’s limited defensive ability. The plan was to avoid conceding first, wait for Arsenal’s energy to drop, then counter. But since Chelsea were already trailing from the previous leg, the strategy backfired—they conceded again in stoppage time. While the overall tactical approach wasn’t unreasonable, the recent streak of comeback wins had already exhausted its luck. In a knockout cup tie, with only one decisive match left, Chelsea should simply go all out.

The new coach’s philosophy differs from Maresca’s. Maresca prepared well before matches, but once things went wrong he was clueless—his substitutions and tactical changes were uninspired. To win the Premier League, you must consistently beat mid- and lower-table teams, while avoiding losses against the top sides. Maresca’s Chelsea looked lively against strong opponents, but struggled badly against weaker teams playing counterattack. Last season’s two trophies were more about “punching below their weight” and favorable circumstances, plus Cole Palmer’s brilliance, rather than genuine team improvement.

There are talented players, and the youngsters are maturing, but overall Chelsea are not yet a true powerhouse and lack title-winning strength. Historically, no Premier League champion has been led by a coach without a big reputation—without a league title, you’re not considered a top manager. The current coach is relatively unknown: capable, but still under observation. He has solved one of Maresca’s old problems—when the high press failed against packed defenses, Chelsea were vulnerable to counterattacks. Now the pressing line is more flexible, dropping deeper when needed to strike back. Losing the League Cup isn’t a major blow; the FA Cup and Champions League remain targets, though both are tough challenges.

Cole Palmer’s injury has sparked rumors of a move to Manchester United. After a groin injury followed by a toe problem, he’s clearly hesitant to exert himself, making more mistakes and looking off form. The “homesickness” narrative is pure media talk—London to Manchester is only a three-hour drive, faster by car. A transfer is possible, and the fee would surely break records, since Chelsea hold his contract and won’t lose financially. The real reason he might leave is the heavy burden of carrying the team alone. Under Pochettino and Maresca, Chelsea often relied entirely on him: he would score through sheer effort, only for the team to collapse in the second half and lose. Months of repeated defeats left both him and the squad demoralized. The physical and mental toll has been enormous, and a change of environment could help—joining a team where victories don’t depend solely on him.

Losing Palmer would hit Chelsea hard, and a summer transfer would be anything but easy. Yet since the coaching change, the team’s style has shifted, and results have improved even without him. Several Brazilian youngsters have stepped up, boosting morale and determination. While reinforcements haven’t arrived, this season’s performance may not be too poor. Everything will become clearer in the summer transfer window. Of course, if Manchester United put £200 million cash on the table, that would be another story.