Every word Enzo Maresca said on Cole Palmer injury, two defenders missing and Brighton clash

Enzo Maresca has just conducted his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's Premier League showdown against Brighton this weekend.

The Italian has just given us an update on the fitness of Cole Palmer, as well as other team news, while also discussing the return of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez following his one-match suspension. Below is every word Maresca had to say:

How is Cole Palmer?

• Alejandro Garnacho shows true Chelsea colours after Enzo Maresca outburst
• Enzo Maresca provides Cole Palmer injury update as Chelsea suffer fresh blow ahead of Brighton

Yeah, we decided to protect a little bit Cole in terms of him not getting a worse injuries. So we decided to rest him for the next two, three weeks, probably until international break, just to see if with that rest he can be able to recover 100% and to be completely fit after the international break.

What's the problem and is it something that rest will repair or does he need some sort of surgery to actually get better?

No, I don't think he needs surgery. It's just a matter of managing his pain and his groin. The amount of games is something that can happen. So this is the reason why we try to be conservative with him to give him rest and hopefully he can be 100% fit after the international break.

And everyone else, or who else is at this point ruled out for tomorrow?

We have a Tosin injury that probably will be out until the international break.

What's wrong?

He has a small problem in his calf. And then Wes Fofana, that he had a concussion the other day against Lincoln. And the rest, I think they are all okay.

Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile?

Romeo and Benoit, they are better. We'll see if they can join us tomorrow. Otherwise it will be for the next one.

Will Robert Sanchez come back into the team?

I think Robert for a long period, a long time, he was very good with us. The last part of last season, the beginning of this season, he was fantastic. He made a mistake against Man United, and recognises that. I said many times, a keeper makes mistakes, it's like a defender or a striker, it's exactly the same. We are happy with Robert, we are happy with Filip [Jorgensen], both of them. And not any problem with Robert.

Is Sanchez improving as a goalkeeper?

Absolutely, yes.

You fully expect him not to do what he did against United?

No, it can happen, it can happen. Also because it's a quick decision, but as you said, we concede probably five goals because of Robert's mistakes [last season], but how many goals we avoid because of Robert's saves? I think many. So no, it's not any problem.

Enzo Fernandez suffering with fatigue? Could Andrey Santos replace him?

Enzo can play in different positions for us. He can play as a No.6 or he can play as an attacking midfielder. We use him probably 90% of our games as an attacking midfielder. I think he's very good in that position. The reason why he can have some good moments or bad moments is probably because the amount of games.

I said many times that for any player, not just for Enzo, but for any players, it's impossible to think that you can play 45 games or 64 games we played in that season all at the same level. It's normal that you drop in some games, but we are very, very happy with Enzo.

Just on the back of that quickly, you think it's best to play him through maybe bad periods of form to get him back again rather than rest?

No, it depends a little bit on what we think from the game plan, but Enzo for us is an important player and we try to use as much as we can.

What does Marc Guiu need to improve?

First of all, it's the balance of the game, the balance of the team that is important. Sometimes you can allow yourself to play with two strikers, sometimes not. Marc is working well and for sure he's going to get some chances.

Who can replace Palmer in the No.10 role?

Yeah, Buonanotte the other day also, he can play in that position. In general, but it depends a little bit. It depends a little bit on the game, the other team, the way they defend. It depends a little bit.

How big of an impact will Palmer's absence have in a big week?

We said that with Cole we are a better team, but we also said that we need to play games without Cole, so we are not going to play with 10 players for sure. We are going to find a different solution.

Do you see Tyrique George as a No.9 now? Is that his best position?

Listen, listen, last year we had in the same game Nicholas Jackson and Mark Injury, and we started to play with Pedro Neto as a No.9, so we tried to find a solution. Now Ty is helping us as a No.9, knowing that his position is a winger, he is not a No.9, but he is playing there, he is doing some good things, like the other day he scored the goal. We will see, we are going to find a solution.

How defining is the next week?

I think it is a bit early to think that next week will define the season, we are not still, not even in October. For me it is quite early, for sure we need to continue to grow, continue to improve. I said it many times, it is the main thing for me as a manager.

What is your relationship like with Fabian Hurzeler?

I think Fabian is doing a fantastic job, since last season he has joined the club, the team is doing well, they are winning games, so he is just doing well.

Chance for Josh Acheampong?

No, I already showed trust and confidence on Josh Acheampong last year when he played games in the Premier League. Because last year if you remember when we played Josh Acheampong against Palace, at home against Bournemouth, the reason why was not because we didn't have any central defenders. I think Tosin was available, Benoit was available. We trust Josh, not because of the injury situation, so nothing changed with Josh. We trust Josh 100%. He was ill this week, he had the first session yesterday with us.

Part of my job is also to find solutions when we have some problems in terms of numbers. As I said last year, I tried to do the same with number 9 when Nicolas was injured, when Guiu was injured, we tried with Pedro, we tried with Ty. I will try to find solutions also in this moment with the central defenders.

Has Axel Disasi emerged as an option?

There is not any information from the club to consider that, so at the moment he is not an option.

You are approaching a very important week with a lot of important games. Are you planning on rotating some players?

We try always to rotate players. I think it has to be the main target this season, also because of the amount of games, the amount of injuries, but at the same time, sometimes you are not able to rotate players because in that position, for any reason, you lack numbers, you don't have the right numbers. We try, for sure, we have three games in a week, we are going to try to rotate players, but some of them have to repeat every game.

Can you start to measure the injuries due to the impact of playing the Club World Cup?

In this moment, for different reasons, we have different problems. I think we have seven or eight players out, unfortunately. Is this a consequence from last season? I don't know. I don't know, I said it many times, we don't know the answer, unfortunately. But again, we are going to try to adapt and find a solution.