Chelsea’s star player by Cole Palmer the trademark ventilation became familiar to the spectators on Saturday at Stamford Bridge, when the London team defeated Brighton 4-2 in the Premier League.
The 22-year-old Palmer got to perform his cool-down gesture in honor of the goal four times, as he forged all of his team’s hits.
The goals were even scored within 20 minutes in the first half. Palmer became the only player to finish Four times in the opening half of a Premier League game.
On top of that, the attacking midfielder had one shot disallowed and once rattled the post. Palmer thought after the match that he could have scored more goals.
– I was disappointed when I didn’t succeed in my first place, but Brighton’s defensive line played so high that we knew we would get more chances. I could have done five or six, Palmer quoth.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca hailed Palmer as the best player in the Premier League after the match and said that he did not believe that the publicity that would grow with feats would go to the player’s head. Maresca previously coached Palmer with Manchester City’s under-23 team.
– He is the same boy as three or four years ago. Goals, assists or being at the top of the Premier League won’t change him. He is a simple and humble guy. That’s the most important thing to me, Maresca quoth.
United supporter ended up at City
Palmer evaluate a couple of years ago – like Maresca – that the years haven’t changed her.
– I’m still a boy who is obsessed with football because it’s the best way for me to be myself. On the field, my true personality comes out. Then I’ll be free.
Palmer was born in Manchester in May 2002 and started playing football at a young age. Father, who played ball in the Puulaaki team Jermaine regularly took his 4–5-year-old son to the nearby park to learn how to protect and control the ball.
– We did that every single day. My father is from Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean and he hates the cold. Yet he did so for me. That’s why I wear the Saint Kitts and Nevis flag on my shoes.
Young Palmer supported Manchester’s traditional big club United, but ended up training at local rival City.
– United said that I could only participate in training. Liverpool wanted to put me in the second team. It was said about City that I could play real matches. The choice was therefore easy.
Junnu player was skilled for his age, but small. However, his father stressed that, being small in stature, Palmer would learn to be adept at having to find ways against bigger ones.
In the end, Palmer’s games in City’s junior teams went well and he celebrated, e.g. two under-21 Premier League championships. The skills learned as a child remained.
To full bloom
However, Palmer did not manage to break into the star cream of the national team, and during his time at City, he played in the Premier League in the seasons 2021–2022 and 2022–2023, as a rule, playing solid minutes in a total of 18 matches.
After playing time, the youngster switched from City’s bench to Chelsea with a transfer of 47 million euros in September 2023, and the result started to appear. Palmer quickly established himself in the starting line-up and began to spit out goals at an accelerating pace.
Palmer scored 22 goals in the previous season and was the second goal scorer in the league to finish the City colossus 27 times Erling Haaland’s24, after. Palmer also provided 11 goal assists, Haaland only five.
– Palmer has grown into himself and the team’s most important player at Chelsea. You can’t leave him out of any team, and I’m talking about the England national team as well, the former Arsenal and England striker Theo Walcott evaluate.
The wild momentum seems to continue this season as well, as Palmer has scored six goals in six matches in the Premier League, which entitles him to second place on the goal exchange – again behind Haaland (10 goals).
However, Palmer can be considered a more versatile attacking player than Haaland. Palmer has scored four goals this season, Haaland none.
Palmer has been involved in 43 goals between this and last season in the English Premier League, when goals and assists leading to them are included (28+15), which is the best quote in the Premier League. Haaland is one point behind with 37 goals and five assists in the same period.
Guardiola understands
Palmer has time to score goals at Chelsea as his contract runs until 2033. Manchester City will therefore have to face their former player several times in the future.
City head coach Pep Guardiola still said in February that he was happy for Palmer. There simply isn’t enough playing time for everyone in City’s top team.
– He wanted more playing time. I completely understand that. If I had given the minutes to him, he would still be here. But I didn’t – it’s my duty. In that moment, I chose Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez’s and by Phil Foden, Guardiola said.
– We knew his quality and he has had a huge impact this season. It’s not just about goals and assists, it’s about quality. He is a real threat at Chelsea.
Sources: BBC, The Players Tribune, The Athletic, Eurosport.