Chelsea star Cole Palmer vs Newcastle after Pochettino plan revealed
Chelsea star Cole Palmer vs Newcastle after Pochettino plan revealed
Cole Palmer has excelled at Chelsea thus far and he is already one of the squad’s most significant players despite being at Stamford Bridge less than three months
Cole Palmer is fantastic. That is mostly what this article is going to be about, so it is imperative to get the point across as early as possible.
The 21-year-old deservedly made his senior England debut during the recently-concluded international break and Chelsea supporters could not be happier for their new star boy. Since arriving from Manchester City in the summer transfer window, Palmer has scored four and produced the same number of assists in 11 matches spread across all competitions.
In the Premier League this season for Chelsea, Palmer has the highest xA, most big chances created, most through-balls completed, as well as four goals and two assists. He is absolutely the real deal and after two weeks of tedious international football, I cannot wait to see him take to the pitch at St. James’ Park this afternoon.
And he is in some form right now. In Chelsea’s five Premier League games, he has produced six direct goal contributions. Mauricio Pochettino has a plan, also, to keep improving the England international.
“Maybe you read my mind because we were talking in the last few weeks to keep players at their best,” Pochettino said in his press conference on Friday afternoon, when asked about how he keeps Palmer ‘grounded’ at this level. “It’s about pushing them to keep outside of their comfort zone.
“After playing a few games well, because human beings, we find this comfortable zone. Our responsibility is to push him every day to uncomfortable zone and being tough with the players.”
What is so special about Palmer is that he has produced this sort of form against some of the best teams in the Premier League. He was mesmerising against Arsenal in the 2-2 draw earlier in the month and he replicated such form against Tottenham a week later.
Against Manchester City, his former club, he had a quiet first-half, but massively improved in the second period. And he was ice-cold from the penalty spot in the final minutes of the game to earn the Blues a well-deserved point at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer, who arrived in September for £42.5million, has shown his versatility already at Chelsea – one of the numerous reasons the club chose him over other targets on their shortlist, football.london understands. He has played on the right wing, but has absolutely shone more centrally as the No.10 behind the striker.
What has resonated with Palmer is the fact Pochettino has allowed him so much freedom on the pitch. He is, undoubtedly now, Chelsea’s go-to man in attack; despite being so young and relatively inexperienced.
Palmer is allowed to roam at will wherever he wants when Chelsea are attacking, often dropping really deep to collect possession. It is something that really suits Palmer, who is absolutely thriving right now.
He will have his work cut out at Newcastle, in what is set to be a really hostile atmosphere at St. James’ Park, but he has shown on numerous occasions already that this is the sort of environment he relishes. If Chelsea are to get anything on Tyneside, then they need to get Palmer involved in the game as much as possible.
He’s only 21 and he’s only been at the club for less than three months. But already he is that significant to Chelsea.
