Enzo Maresca makes Champions League claim over Cole Palmer and Chelsea stars

Enzo Maresca has claimed Cole Palmer and his Chelsea stars “deserve” to play in the next season as he challenged them to “take responsibility" and seal a top-five finish.

Last weekend’s defeat at sees the Blues remain fifth only on goal difference from and a point ahead of . And the UEFA Conference League finalists will be without a recognised striker for their last two games - starting with on Friday night - after Nicolas Jackson’s red card at St James’ Park.

The Italian manager wants Palmer to be an “important player” in ’s final home game of an inconsistent season against the finalists. But after sitting in the top five all season, Maresca said: “I don’t think Cole is the only one in terms of players who deserves (the Champions League).

"I think Moises also is a player that deserves the Champions League. Enzo Fernandez deserves the Champions League.

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"Levi Colwell the deserves Champions League and this is the reason why we have been there and we are going to try to finish there because we have many players that in terms of status, they deserve to play in the Champions League.

“Do the players have it in them to step up? Yeah, I have this feeling. I think that tactics are important. But it’s also important that players take responsibility and also to show desire to bring this club to where this club has to be.”

Maresca said he “100 per cent” wants a new striker next season. And without the focal point of Jackson - Pedro Neto is set to return to the role of false nine - there is more pressure on Palmer to perform. The England star scored a hat-trick against his boyhood team last season but he only ended an 18-match goal drought in their last home fixture.

“Against for sure he scored in the last minute, a penalty, but his performance has been top in all the aspects in terms of sacrifice, desire, help team-mates,” Maresca added. “So we are happy with that kind of performance from Cole. Now if he's able to score and assist, we are even more happy.”

The Italian also promised to review Chelsea’s poor disciplinary record at the end of the season as they top the Premier League yellow card table with 96.

“It's probably also the way we try to be, intense, aggressive. I don't know to be honest. It's a good question that probably we need to analyse during the summer when we have some day off and to see if there is something that we can do better.”

Jackson was the first Chelsea player to be dismissed during a match this season as Marc Cucurella was sent off after the final whistle against Brentford.

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