Cole Palmer was not included in Chelsea’s squad for the UEFA Conference League group stage, while Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix made the cut.

In a surprising turn of events, Cole Palmer has been left out of Chelsea’s squad for the UEFA Conference League group stage. The talented midfielder, who joined the club from Manchester City last year, has been a standout performer for The Blues. However, it will now be up to his teammates to lead the charge as they aim to progress to the knockout phase of the continental competition.

Joining Palmer on the sidelines are defender Wesley Fofana and midfielder Romeo Lavia, both of whom struggled with injuries last season. On a more positive note, Chelsea’s new signings Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix have been included in the squad, adding firepower to the team.

Chelsea are gearing up for a demanding season, with their campaign potentially stretching until mid-July due to their participation in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. This means that the squad will need to be at their best for an extended period of time.

Palmer, who was recently nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, made appearances off the bench in both legs of Chelsea’s aggregate victory over Swiss side Servette in the Conference League play-off. However, he has withdrawn from England’s squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches in order to focus on his rehabilitation for ongoing issues.

Looking ahead, Chelsea’s Conference League fixtures include matches against Gent, Panathinaikos, Noah, Heidenheim, Astana, and Shamrock Rovers. The squad list for the group stage features a mix of experienced players such as Reece James and Pedro Neto, as well as promising talents like Noni Madueke and Carney Chukwuemeka.

It is worth noting that clubs can register an unlimited number of players on Player List B, as long as they were born on or after January 1, 2003, and are eligible. This provides Chelsea with flexibility in terms of squad selection and allows them to tap into their youth talent pool.

Overall, Chelsea will be hoping to make a strong impression in the UEFA Conference League and continue their success on the European stage. With a talented squad at their disposal, they have the potential to go far in the competition.