Cole Palmer made a huge call in the summer when he left Treble-winning Manchester City for struggling Chelsea.
Despite the trophy success under Pep Guardiola and the near guarantees you will win silverware, this was a brave move from the 21-year-old.
Shaun Wright-Phillips didn’t think Cole Palmer would make such an instant impact and ‘all of a sudden’ become Chelsea’s ‘main man’, as he told Premier League Productions (13/01/24 at 8:10 pm).
Given the number of young players Chelsea have brought in, both under previous managers and now Mauricio Pochettino.
It has resulted in a number of them showcasing indifferent form, rawness to their game and signs that they simply aren’t ready to push the club towards where it wants to be right now.
But not someone like Cole Palmer, who is taking everything in his stride and seemingly enjoying the pressure he is under.
On Saturday, Chelsea recorded a 1-0 win over Fulham, with their £40 million summer signing scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.
Cole Palmer – Chelsea’s ‘main man’
“Chelsea definitely wouldn’t be in the position they are in without Cole Palmer,” said Wright-Phillips
“He is the man that makes them tick, especially when he is moving that ball around in the final third. He is the most creative one.
“When you go back to the signing. Him going to Chelsea, you don’t think he is going to be the main man there all of a sudden.
“But the first two games and the penalty, he was a character and a big character who stood up and said ‘No, I am taking a penalty’. That shows you his mentality. He deals with pressure really well.”
Cole Palmer at Euro 2024
The versatile forward earned his England debut this season and he is hitting the right form ahead of Euro 2024.
You don’t see any reason why Gareth Southgate won’t be selecting Palmer when England next meet up because he is one of the form English players in the league this season.
Palmer has the ability to play as a ten, or if need be, out wide, which just increases his chances of, not getting picked, but going to the Euros and starting.
But England are very blessed in the attacking department, with Harry Kane leading the line, James Maddison and Ollie Watkins playing the best football of their careers and someone like Dominic Solanke on 12 Premier League goals, yet he might not even get a sniff.
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