Chelsea received a boost in training as Estevao Willian, Malo Gusto, and Jamie Gittens returned to action ahead of their UEFA Champions League match against Pafos.
The trio had missed the Blues’ recent Premier League win over Brentford, but they were back on the grass at Cobham, ready for Rosenior’s European debut.
Cole Palmer, who appeared frustrated during Chelsea’s victory over Brentford on Saturday, was also present at the Surrey training base.
The 23-year-old midfielder scored the winning goal against the Bees, securing manager Liam Rosenior’s first Premier League triumph.
Injury Updates and Player Attitudes
Despite concerns over Palmer’s apparent frustration, Rosenior insisted the midfielder’s effort was exemplary.
“No, Cole, if you watch the last 15 minutes of the game and the energy he puts into pressing and running for the team, I thought he was outstanding,” Rosenior said.
The Chelsea boss added that both Palmer and Reece James had limited training due to knocks but showed fantastic commitment during matches.
“They haven’t trained. They’ve put themselves up and ran themselves into the ground. The more games and training they get, the better they’ll perform,” Rosenior explained.
He emphasized the need to keep players healthy and fit for upcoming fixtures, promising to make careful decisions regarding their availability.
Champions League Focus
Palmer may be eager to contribute to Rosenior’s Champions League debut, but Chelsea are expected to rotate heavily against Pafos.
The team will face a crucial test next week against Napoli in the final match of the league phase, which could define their progression in Europe.
Currently, Chelsea sit 13th in the Champions League table, just two points behind teams in sixth to ninth positions, including Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Liverpool.
A top-eight finish would secure automatic qualification to the last 16, while a ninth-to-sixteenth placement would require a two-legged knockout phase play-off in February.
With the race for progression intensifying, every player’s fitness and performance could be pivotal for Chelsea’s season ambitions.