Maresca says Chelsea star now looks like a ‘different player’ and backs Palmer to do the same | OneFootball

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has backed misfiring Cole Palmer to rediscover his form like Nicolas Jackson has done of late.

Jackson scored twice as Chelsea thumped Djurgarden 4-1 in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final, with Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke also getting on the scoresheet.

It means the Blues take a clear advantage back to Stamford Bridge for the second leg next week, but half-time substitute Palmer again failed to find the net.

Maresca, however, says Palmer can take inspiration from team-mate Jackson following his own goal drought prior to the last two games.

“Nico scored against Everton and it’s all about confidence,” he said.

“You see now that he looks a different player from weeks ago, hopefully the same thing is going to happen with Cole, it’s just a matter of breaking that moment and going again.”

Maresca also warned his side not to get complacent, having lost in their last home Conference League game against Legia Warsaw despite still managing to progress after their first-leg victory.

“Very happy with the result, with the performance, it’s a European competition semi-final so it’s very important,” he said.

“We planned the game one way in the beginning and to finish in a different way.

“I think the performance for one hour, 70 minutes, was a good performance then we dropped a little bit the last 15 or 20 minutes probably because we were 3-0 or 4-0 up.

“But that showed that we cannot allow ourselves to drop because it’s always complicated and the message is, against Warsaw away we won 3-0 and then at home we struggled.

“It’s a good experience and for sure the next leg at home we’re going to finish our job and hopefully we can reach the final.”

The Blues take on Djurgarden at home next Thursday with a place in the final against Fiorentina or Real Betis at stake.

Betis came out on top in their first leg, winning 2-1 at home.