Chelsea boss Maresca fires warning to squad and tells stars to ‘share responsibility’ ahead of daunting Man City opener

ENZO MARESCA told Chelsea’s forwards they must score more goals — instead of just relying on Cole Palmer.

The Italian is concerned Palmer will be a marked man during his second full season in the Prem after last year’s stellar campaign and  superb performances for England at the Euros, including a goal in the final.

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Palmer, 22, scored 25 goals and grabbed 15 assists for the Blues in all competitions.

Senegal star  Nicolas Jackson, 23, was the club’s next best performer with 17 goals and six assists - and boss Maresca wants the load  to be shared around this season.

Palmer was rewarded for his efforts by signing a new nine-year contract last week, which could increase the pressure on him.

Maresca said: “I don’t think it’s the contract but when you score 20 goals one season it’s always difficult to replicate, whether you are Cole Palmer or even Erling Haaland.

“It’s difficult and with Palmer we have to make sure we share the responsibility for goals with other wingers and attacking midfielders.

“It is not everything on Cole’s shoulders. We play with two wingers, two attacking players and a No 9.

“So these five players are the ones in charge of scoring goals and  assisting their team-mates.

The wingers, attacking players and No 9 are in charge of scoring goals.”

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Maresca has more options than any other manager in the Prem as he prepares to picks his first Chelsea team to host Manchester City on Sunday.

Palmer appears certain to start somewhere, leaving £35million Noni Madueke, £47.5m Raheem Sterling, £62m Mykhailo Mudryk, £56m  Christopher Nkunku and new £51m signing Pedro Neto competing for two other attacking roles behind a central striker - expected to be Jackson.

Maresca is still hopeful of signing another striker before the transfer window closes after the collapse of a move for Atletico Madrid’s Samu Omorodion.

Atleti forward Joao Felix was on loan at Stamford Bridge last year and is keen to return in a deal that could lead to the revival of Conor Gallagher’s transfer the other way.

Maresca is aiming to lay down an early marker against Prem champs City, who drew both league games against Chelsea last season and beat them in an FA Cup semi-final.

But the former Leicester chief does not want a repeat of last November’s 4-4 thriller at Stamford Bridge.

He said: “I was watching it at home and it was fantastic.

“But as a manager, I don’t like conceding goals - and I don’t want to concede four.

“When you play against the champions from the last four years and are able to beat them then it would be a fantastic day for us.

“But for us it’s important we start to compete and see a team that is trying to win the game.”

Chelsea’s defensive set-up is more settled after Ben Chilwell was told to find another club.

Marc Cucurella will be preferred to the vice-captain at left-back while  Malo Gusto will start at  right-back as Reece James has a hamstring injury.

Levi Colwill is set to be partnered by Wesley Fofana in central  defence, with Romeo Lavia set to play with Enzo Fernandez in central midfield.

On having a squad with an average age of 24 years and 280 days, Maresca added: “I like the age of the squad but  the important thing is they are full of talent.”

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