Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has disclosed why Cole Palmer didn't feature in his side's defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup.

The Blues crashed out of the League Cup at the round of 16 after losing 2-0 at St James' Park on Wednesday night, courtesy of goals from Aleksander Isak and an own goal by Axel Disasi.

The Blues' star man, Cole Palmer, watched the game from the bench as Enzo Maresca made eight changes to the side that won 2-1 against the same opponent in the Premier League last weekend.

The former Leicester City boss made just a single substitution during the game, bringing on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for Noni Madueke in the 57th minute.

Speaking on why he refused to bring on his talisman to save the sinking ship, Maresca noted that there was no need because Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku were performing well.

“No, no, no,” Maresca said at his post-match interview. “Simply because I think Joao and Christo were doing very good. The reason why [we brought him] was in case we needed Cole but Joao and Christo were doing well so there was no need to change.”