Joy returns
Enzo Maresca once wished that left-footed midfielder Cole Palmer – a cool but sophisticated player – would have an effective performance at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup to reaffirm his position as Chelsea's best player.
At Lincoln Financial Field a few days ago, Maresca said he became the happiest coach after Palmer played his best game in the quarterfinals against Palmeiras.
The England international scored a soft opener just past the half-hour mark, and provided the link-up play and creativity to Chelsea's attacking play throughout.
Palmer's best game was also Chelsea 's most spectacular performance of the tournament.
In the first 3 group stage matches, with dense density and harsh weather, having to rotate continuously, Palmer played in the number 10 position, right winger and left winger respectively.
“He can play anywhere,” Maresca explained. Against Palmeiras, he played Palmer on the right but from the centre.
It was also the position Maresca suggested after the Conference League final, where Chelsea beat Real Betis 4-1.
After lifting the Conference League title, Palmer surprised the world by criticising his manager’s tactics. “I’m sick and tired of running wide and dropping deep,” Palmer said bluntly.
The next day, Maresca called his student in for a private talk to resolve any issues before going to the US to attend the FIFA tournament.
“I told Cole that I like the way he takes responsibility and takes the initiative when he has the ball. But why didn’t he do it from the first minute? Why wait? Why didn’t he do it the next minute?” Maresca recently revealed.
The Italian coach seemed to have touched the emotional cord of the Stockport-born attacking midfielder. He listened and changed.
Cold and burning
Although he was a young fan of MU - the most traditional football team in Manchester and England, Palmer was discovered by a Man City scout at the age of 6.
It took a lot of convincing to convince the boy, then Palmer attached and matured at Man City's academy, then was promoted to the first team under Pep Guardiola.
Pep let him go, something he often did with players who were not sure of playing much in the teams he had managed.
Chelsea quickly spent a significant amount of money to bring to Stamford Bridge a player who was both sophisticated and cold.
It was so cold that Palmer was barely seen celebrating his goals. Now, every now and then, after scoring, Palmer would mock the cold with a fake celebration.
“He does things no one else can do with the ball,” Maresca praised Chelsea’s attacking leader. A player with a cool exterior, but a fighting heart that is always burning.
As he entered the MetLife press room ahead of the semi-final against Fluminense, Maresca heard talk of the hot weather making things difficult for Chelsea.
“I watched the Real Madrid-Dortmund match on TV and the temperature was great. Not only for the upcoming semi-final, but we are used to playing in harsh conditions. The match kicks off at 3pm (local time) , we will try to adapt.”
Masresca doesn’t want to hear any excuses. “We spent the whole season as the youngest team in the Premier League and still won. Now it’s the same,” he concluded.
With Palmer at the helm, Maresca's Chelsea have set a host of Premier League youth records and have won the Conference League title, with them just two games away from a major FIFA title.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/chelsea-dau-fluminense-maresca-cho-vu-dieu-cole-palmer-2419308.html
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