Cole Palmer hopes to end his goal drought as Chelsea prepare for crucial clash against Everton at Stamford Bridge

It feels like forever since Cole Palmer found the back of the net — and for Chelsea fans, the wait has been almost unbearable.

The 22-year-old’s last goal came all the way back in January during a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth.

Now, with Everton coming to Stamford Bridge this Saturday, Palmer will be desperate to finally snap out of his scoring slump.

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Enzo Maresca Defends Palmer’s Struggles as a Mental Battle, Not a Tactical One

Ahead of the Everton match, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca made it clear: Palmer’s 16-game goal drought isn’t about tactics or technical flaws.

According to Maresca, it’s all happening in Palmer’s head.

“For sure, it’s mental,” Maresca said during his pre-match press conference on Friday. “It’s not tactical, it’s not technical.

Cole is still the same player who scored 14 goals in his first 20 Premier League games for us this season.”

Maresca emphasized that nothing else has changed — not the style of play, not the coaching staff, not the club itself.

“The style of football is the same. The manager is the same.

The club is the same. Cole is still Cole. It’s just a mental thing right now,” he added.

Maresca Insists Chelsea Are Setting Palmer Up to Succeed

Despite Palmer’s rough patch, Maresca insisted that Chelsea’s system is still designed to give their top players the best chance to shine.

“We always try to put our best players in dangerous situations.

We’ve done that since the start, and we’re still doing it every game,” he explained.

“If you look back, Cole has had at least one or two chances every match.

It’s not about the team playing differently — that’s not the reality.”

In short, Maresca believes it’s just one of those frustrating periods that footballers sometimes go through.

“It’s just football,” he said. “Right now, he’s missing the goal — nothing more than that.”

More Pressure on the Horizon: Champions League Qualification Matters

Palmer isn’t the only one under pressure. Nicolas Jackson is also struggling, having gone 13 games without a goal.

And for Chelsea as a whole, Saturday’s match against Everton feels bigger than just three points.

Maresca acknowledged that qualifying for the Champions League will be crucial for Chelsea’s summer plans.

When asked if it would directly impact their ability to land transfer targets, he didn’t hesitate: “Absolutely, yes.”

With the stakes high and the goals drying up, Saturday’s clash at Stamford Bridge could be a major turning point — not just for Palmer, but for the entire club’s ambitions moving forward.