Michael Owen insists Enzo Maresca is playing one Chelsea star in the WRONG position… and claims the Blues are trying to ‘shuffle the pack’ after buying so many players

Michael Owen has insisted Enzo Maresca is not letting one of Chelsea’s star players play in his best position.

The Blues suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, with Erling Haaland and former Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic both scoring.

However, questions have been raised about Maresca’s selection and the signings the club has made this summer. Many have been surprised by the level of interest in the transfer market. Nine players have already signed this summer and it seems likely that more will follow.

For Owen, it appears the Blues have too big a squad and are ‘reshuffling players’ while Maresca tries to find a formula that works for his team.

But the former Liverpool and Man United striker insisted the Italian coach played star player Cole Palmer in a different position against City on Sunday, with the forward starting on the right flank.

Owen (pictured) insisted Maresca played one of his star players in a position other than his best during Sunday’s defeat to Man City

“Chelsea have bought so many players who can play in that position, haven’t they?” Owen told Premier League Productions, speaking about Chelsea’s options on both wings.

‘You have players who are not even in the squad but who can play in that position, like Raheem Sterling. I’m sure the manager has seen how good he is [Palmer] was last season and the position he played and everything around it.

“And you would just think that when you pick a team, your best players are playing in their best positions and you fit around them. You’re not going to push your best players into unfamiliar positions.”

Palmer enjoyed an exceptional 2023-24 season under Pochettino, starting as a number 10 and eventually earning a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024. He would again show his innate ability to find the net from midfield, scoring the equaliser in the final against Spain.

‘If I was the manager he would be first on the scoresheet in his preferred position and then I would work around it, but it seems they have bought so many players that they are trying to reshuffle the squad,’ Owen added.

Owen stated that the manager should play Cole Palmer (pictured) in the number 10 position

Palmer (right) started for Chelsea against City on the wing, but his best position is in midfield

Pep Guardiola (left) was interestingly spotted chatting to Palmer during Saturday’s match, after the Chelsea forward left Man City to join Chelsea last year

Glenn Hoddle (pictured) agreed with Owens analysis, stating that Palmer ‘has to be at the heart of the team’

‘We heard the manager say before the game that Cole Palmer can play in any position in attack and I’m sure he can, but I’d rather see him at his best and get the ball more in a more central area.’

Palmer can play well on the wings, but it is widely acknowledged that the 22-year-old is at his best when dribbling through the centre of the pitch.

The attacking midfielder is set to win the Premier League’s Best Young Player award in the 2023-24 season. Palmer has scored 22 goals in 34 Premier League games for Chelsea.

Former Chelsea attacking midfielder Glenn Hoddle agreed with Owen, adding: ‘I don’t like seeing [Palmer so wide]. Start wide and let the ball drift inward.

‘In the second half I’m not sure if it was the manager or if he said to himself, “I’m going to get the ball”. You need him on the ball!

“That means he has to be in the center of the team, where people feed him and he gets the ball twice as often. Things will happen to him.”

Palmer has meanwhile extended his stay at the west London club for a further two years after joining Chelsea from Man City in a £42.5million move in 2023, meaning he will have a nine-year contract with Chelsea.

Palmer has meanwhile extended his stay at the west London club for a further two years after moving to Chelsea from Man City in a £42.5million move in 2023.

“I don’t think it’s the contract, but when you score 20 goals in a season it’s always difficult to match that, whether you’re Cole Palmer or Erling Haaland,” Maresca said when asked about Palmer’s performance after the match.

‘It’s difficult and with Palmer we have to make sure we share the responsibility for goals with other wingers and attacking midfielders.

“It’s not all on Cole’s shoulders. We play with two wingers, two forwards and a number 9. So those five players are the ones responsible for scoring goals and assisting their teammates. The wingers, forwards and number 9 are responsible for scoring goals.”

While the club’s owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, look to buy younger stars to prepare for the future, Chelsea’s signings and approach to selling players has left many fans surprised.

The decision to leave Conor Gallagher uncertain over his future at Chelsea this summer has left many fans, including Paul Merson, questioning the club’s business model, given that the midfielder is a graduate of the Blues’ youth academy.