Cole Palmer Adapts to New Freedom Under Xabi Alonso at Chelsea
Cole Palmer has shared that Xabi Alonso has granted him greater freedom to showcase his talents since taking over as manager of Chelsea. The forward has made an impressive start to the current season, contributing both goals and assists in the recent 3-2 Premier League victory against Fulham on Monday night.
After a promising debut year with Chelsea, Palmer faced challenges with form and fitness last season, resulting in his absence from England’s World Cup squad. However, he is relishing the opportunity to work under Alonso, who has encouraged a more flexible playing style.
“He [Alonso] just said I’d have more freedom to drift about the pitch,” Palmer explained to Sky Sports. “Just like you saw [against Fulham] with the goal I scored. Last season, I wouldn’t have even made that run because it’s not a ‘safe zone’. But he’s saying move across that zone, drop into play, come get on the ball, create and just do what you do.”
Chelsea had a difficult time last season, finishing 10th in the Premier League, leading to the dismissal of both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior. Alonso, who joined the club at the start of the summer, has received good support in the transfer market, notably bringing in Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for over £100 million to strengthen his attacking midfield options.
The combination of Joao Pedro, Palmer, and Rogers has been referred to as “JP Morgan” by some Chelsea fans, though Palmer feels they can come up with a better nickname. “It’s a rubbish name,” he joked. “We need to come up with something better than that.”
Palmer believes the trio provides a diverse mix of skills: “Joao can do a bit of everything. Morgan’s more physical and I’m more technical, so I think we’ve got a good balance.”
Cole Palmer has revealed that Xabi Alonso has given him more freedom to express himself after taking over at Chelsea.
Palmer has made a strong start to the season, scoring and assisting in the 3-2 Premier League win against Fulham on Monday night.
Cole Palmer made a strong start to the new Premier League season (Getty)
Having been a standout in his first year at Chelsea, the 24-year-old struggled at times for form and fitness in the last campaign and missed out on a place in England’s World Cup squad.
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But Palmer is enjoying working under his new manager, who has given the forward a free role.
“He [Alonso] just said I’d have more freedom to drift about the pitch,” Palmer explained to Sky Sports. “Just like you saw [against Fulham] with the goal I scored.
“Last season, I wouldn’t have even made that run because it’s not a ‘safe zone’. But he’s saying move across that zone, drop into play, come get on the ball, create and just do what you do.”
Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season in a campaign that saw both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior sacked.
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Former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss Alonso was installed at the start of the summer and has enjoyed good backing in the transfer market, with Morgan Rogers brought in from Aston Villa for more than £100m to bolster his attacking midfield options.
The trio of Joao Pedro, Palmer and Rogers have been dubbed “JP Morgan” by sections of the Chelsea fanbase – but Palmer thinks they can do better.
“It’s a rubbish name,” he joked. “We need to come up with something better than that.
Cole Palmer is enjoying working with Morgan Rogers (Getty)
“I think we’ve got a different mix of qualities. Joao can do a bit of everything. Morgan’s more physical and I’m more technical, so I think we’ve got a good balance.”
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