Chelsea breathed some life into their inconsistent season by securing a deserved 3-2 win over Newcastle United on Monday night.
Mauricio Pochettino will be thanking his lucky stars that he signed a player like Cole Palmer because he is proving to be a game-changer.
The 21-year-old supplied the assist for Nicolas Jackson’s opening goal, before scoring the goal that put Chelsea back into the lead in the second half.
Scott Parker admitted that he has been left amazed by Cole Palmer and how ‘the game comes still’ when he is on the ball, as he told Premier League Productions (11/03/24 at 9:55 pm).
Coming through the Manchester City academy, at the peak time of Pep Guardiola, you would expect the rising English star to be able to dance and talk on the ball like no other.
Therefore, his ability on the ball and high-class technical quality shouldn’t be a surprise.
What should be a surprise is Manchester City allowing him to go because Pep Guardiola would never have done this to Phil Foden three or four years ago.
Either way, what is Manchester City’s loss is now Chelsea’s gain, with Scott Parker giving Cole Palmer his flowers for his latest performance.
Cole Palmer shines for Chelsea again
“He is a player that, when he gets the ball, the game comes still,” said Parker.
“There is a calmness about him – You look at him constantly when he is on the ball. It’s like he has got minutes on the ball. He always looks like he is in control and has got time.
“It’s the preparation that he is doing prior to this. He knows where he is now (for his goal) he is in a tight situation. He is scanning, working out his positioning, where he is and what players are around him.
“He isn’t the most physical specimen, but in terms of his quality, he can see a pass and the game comes very still for him. He never rushes. Calm and composed.”
Chelsea’s transfer business
The London club took an almighty risk by signing a number of young stars for over a billion pounds.
From going from Champions League winners to an 11th-placed side, it has been quite the downfall for the club during these past few years.
But a number of these young players, from Palmer to Malo Gusto, are now starting to showcase serious promise and quality.
It’s just a case of continuing to provide them with a stable environment, so they can grow, push Chelsea up the table again and win trophies.