Former Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor says Chelsea’s decision to leave Cole Palmer out of their Europa Conference League squad is ‘disrespectful to the competition’.
Chelsea will be playing in the third tier of European competition after finishing down in sixth place in the Premier League under Enzo Maresca’s predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino, last season.
The Blues secured their spot in the group stage of the Conference League after coming through a tough test against Swiss outfit Servette last month, with Maresca’s men winning 3-2 on aggregate over two legs.
Palmer enjoyed a remarkable debut campaign with Chelsea last term, racking up 22 goals and 11 assists in the English top flight which saw the 22-year-old attacking midfielder win the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
However, Palmer was surprisingly left out of Chelsea’s 27-man squad for the competition. It’s understood the Stamford Bridge giants are keen to manage the England international’s workload.
Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana, who have both struggled with injuries since arriving in west London, were also omitted from the group.
‘I think it’s disrespectful to the competition because they wouldn’t do that for the Europa League or the Champions League,’ Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT when asked about Chelsea’s decision.
‘They’re looking at the Europa Conference League like, “Eurgh, we’re Chelsea and we shouldn’t be in this… let’s rest our players who might pick up knocks”.
‘Especially with Lavia and Fofana. They’ve had injury problems and they’re probably thinking, “Rest them in the Europa Conference League, we can play a weakened side and then concentrate on the Premier League with some of these players”.
‘I think it’s quite disrespectful to the competition to be honest.’
According to Agbonlahor, there is a risk that Chelsea’s bold call could be used as a source of motivation by rival teams in the Europa Conference League.
He added: ‘If I’m a team that is playing against them, I’m looking at them and would be like, “Come on, that’s a team talk… they’re resting a few players, not putting them in the squad because they’re thin there, the rest of their squad can beat you”.
‘I do think that if I was playing against them I would be like, “Oh, Palmer doesn’t have to play does he? Is this a rubbish competition?”.
‘But I do get it. You need a rest as well, the players do.’
Palmer has started all of Chelsea’s games in the Premier League this season and was named in Lee Carsley’s England squad for the side’s Nations League double-header with the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
But the former Manchester City youngster returned to Chelsea prior to England’s win over Ireland to ‘continue his rehabilitation’ on an ‘ongoing issue’.
Maresca will no doubt be hoping Palmer is fit and firing again in time for Chelsea’s trip to Bournemouth next weekend.
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