Chelsea Take Cautious Approach to Palmer and Estêvão Injuries
Chelsea are managing two different injury situations, with Cole Palmer’s groin problem being handled through rest and workload management while Estêvão continues his rehabilitation from a serious thigh injury.
Palmer’s prevention plan and Estêvão’s route back
Palmer’s issue and Estêvão’s are separate cases from different points in the calendar. Palmer’s groin problem was addressed by Enzo Maresca in September 2025, while Estêvão’s rehabilitation follows a thigh injury suffered at the end of April.
According to BBC Sport, Palmer was withdrawn during the first half of Chelsea’s defeat at Manchester United after the groin issue reoccurred. The problem had initially flared up during the club’s shortened two-week pre-season after the Club World Cup win. Maresca said Chelsea would rest Palmer for two to three weeks until the October international break, taking a conservative approach rather than pursuing surgery.
Palmer had started three of Chelsea’s first seven matches of that season and had missed England’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. The aim was to avoid aggravating the problem and allow him to recover fully after the international break.
Estêvão’s situation is more recent. Sports Witness, citing ESPN Brazil, reported that the winger would return to Palmeiras’ training facilities for another period of rehabilitation. Chelsea approved the arrangement and continue to control the treatment programme, while Palmeiras provide the facilities and familiar surroundings.
Chelsea initially preferred surgery, but Estêvão and his camp favoured conservative treatment, first in the hope that he could make Brazil’s World Cup squad and later because they believed an operation was unnecessary. ESPN Brazil reported that his rehabilitation was progressing well and that a return around the beginning of August was expected.
Palmeiras remains a familiar environment for Estêvão. The report noted his previous connection with nutritionist Mirtes Stancanelli, who worked with him on diet and muscle development in 2024.
Tribal Football, also citing ESPN Brazil, reported that the current timeframe would likely rule Estêvão out of Chelsea’s pre-season and could see him miss the start of the 2026/27 season. An early-August return remains a current expectation rather than a guarantee.
