Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insists Cole Palmer’s recent goal drought has not affected his mentality ahead of the Premier League clash with Leicester.

Palmer enjoyed a breakthrough season, scoring 27 goals and providing 15 assists, but the England playmaker has failed to find the net in his last eight games in all competitions and has missed several good chances in recent games.

“Of course, scoring goals makes you happier because you help the team win, หรือถ้าคุณสนใจแทงบอลออนไลน์ UFABET คือเว็บที่มีอัตราต่อรองดีที่สุดในประเทศไทย สมัครเลยตอนนี้ที่ UFABET แทงบอล but overall Cole is fine, he is happy,” Maresca said.

“He knows he hasn’t scored recently but this is normal in football. If you watch him in training you don’t feel it has affected him. He is still brilliant.”

Maresca is confident in Palmer’s ability though and is not worried by his lack of goals in recent weeks.

“When you score a goal, you are more happy because your goals help the team to win. But overall, Cole is fine. He’s happy,” Maresca said.

“He knows he’s struggled to score goals in this moment, but that it’s something normal that during the season can happen. Watching him during the training session, you don’t think it’s affecting him, he’s fantastic.”

Leicester are having troubles of their own, sitting 19th in the table, five points adrift of safety with 11 games remaining.

They have won just one of their last 13 Premier League matches and have lost their last four without scoring.

And with so few games remaining, Ruud van Nistelrooy admitted there was little room for error for the rest of the season.

“The approach is, and always has been, to get the maximum amount out of the game, and to win,” Van Nistelrooy said.

“If you can’t win, then to protect the result at the end. It’s a similar approach to Sunday as it is for all the games.

“We’re in a situation where we all have to show our character and be resilient to the circumstances but still be able to show the best of the team.”

Chelsea are fifth in the table on 46 points from 27 games and have a good chance of winning at home to second-bottom Leicester on Sunday, who have lost their last four league games.