Chelsea Excludes Cole Palmer from UEFA Conference League Squad to Manage Minutes

Cole Palmer has been omitted from Chelsea's squad for the early stages of the UEFA Conference League as part of the club's strategy to manage the England international's playing time during a potentially extended season that could last until mid-July.

In addition to Palmer, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana have also been left out, reportedly due to "load management" considerations. Chelsea is set to compete in an expanded Club World Cup in the United States, which runs from June 15 to July 13.

Palmer, who scored in England's Euro 2024 final loss to Spain, had a busy summer and has withdrawn from the England squad for Nations League fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Finland this week.

FIFPro, the global footballers' union, stated on Thursday that football's governing bodies are "failing to meet their duty of care" to players by not providing adequate rest amid the growing number of tournaments. The union advocates for a guaranteed minimum amount of rest and the imposition of a maximum number of games for players.

Last season, Palmer participated in 57 matches for both club and country. The head of England's Professional Footballers' Association highlighted the success of Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who both benefited from a summer break from international duties, as evidence of the positive impact of rest periods.

Chelsea is scheduled to face Gent, Panathinaikos, FC Noah, Heidenheim, Astana, and Shamrock Rovers in the revamped league phase of UEFA's third-tier European club competition. Palmer may still be included in Chelsea's squad for the latter stages if the team advances.