“It is my moment”: Cole Palmer’s confidence radiates as he prepares for his debut with England.

“I

“I am a player who constantly craves possession of the ball,” states Cole Palmer, and this was evident on Sunday. With 92 minutes on the clock and his new team Chelsea trailing 4-3 against his former team Manchester City, Palmer eagerly stepped up to take the penalty that could secure an unlikely draw at Stamford Bridge. “As soon as I saw the referee award it, I knew it was my moment,” he recalls.

“I had a conversation with my teammate Raheem Sterling, who used to play for City as well. I told him that I wanted it and he agreed. It reminded me of Chelsea’s match against Burnley in October, where Sterling won a penalty at 1-1 and the ball seemed to come to me easily.”

The 21-year-old did not have the assigned role of taking the shot that day, but he recognized the chance to score his first goal in the Premier League and he is not one to let that opportunity slip by. “I noticed Raz had won it and then he told me to take it,” Palmer explains. “It was just a spur-of-the-moment decision during the game.”

Palmer successfully made a score. This was similar to his previous scoring moments when Chelsea was awarded penalties against Arsenal while the score was tied at 0-0 and when they were losing 1-0 to Tottenham. However, his goal against City was even more significant. The surrounding storylines were gripping and it culminated in a moment of intense pressure, which seemed to increase as players from both teams were separated and VAR checks were conducted, taking several minutes.

Did Palmer feel anxious? He casually raises his shoulders, a common habit for him. This type of nonchalant attitude is typical of someone from Manchester. “Honestly, not really,” he answers. “I did have some thoughts about my previous club while I was waiting, but after that, not much.”

After scoring, Palmer performed a shrug as his celebration. “I have been with City for 15 years,” he explains. “I can’t celebrate in my usual manner like I would for a 95th-minute equaliser because it would be rude. So, I just shrugged instead. I’m not sure why.”

Palmer has lived a whirlwind period, beginning with being a part of England’s European Under-21 Championship triumph in the summer. He started the season with goals for City in the Community Shield and the European Super Cup. Then there was the £40m deadline-day move to Chelsea. His Stamford Bridge career has ignited and there would be even more when he checked his phone after Sunday’s game. Gareth Southgate had given him a first senior England call-up for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.

Palmer describes the opportunity as a bonus, stating that he did not have England recognition in mind when he chose to leave City for Chelsea. He received the news after the game and his phone was flooded with notifications from City fans, friends, and family. After reading the message multiple times, he confirmed the news by calling his parents to share the exciting update.

Palmer’s reflections on his move are intriguing and humorous, especially when he reflects on his new life in the southern region. One particular aspect that frustrates him is the traffic, which is a major difference from his previous home. However, overall he is content with his new surroundings, despite the warmer weather compared to Manchester.

This was a significant change for me. I had never played outside of Manchester, not even on a temporary basis, so moving there alone was a major step. Initially, it was challenging as I stayed in a hotel, but now I feel more acclimated.

Palmer was feeling disappointed by not getting enough playing time at City and had been thinking about potentially leaving. However, when City showed their preference for signing Jérémy Doku, Palmer had to make a quick decision. He had a productive conversation with Mauricio Pochettino and was aware of the Chelsea manager’s impressive track record in nurturing young players. He went through a period of self-reflection and eventually came to a clear and confident decision.

“I pondered over it for a few days, constantly weighing my options,” Palmer reflects. “It was a difficult decision to make. Ultimately, I realized that for the sake of my career, it was necessary for me to secure regular playing time. The competition at City was fierce, with many talented players and potential signings. I wasn’t certain about staying there. When I looked at the Chelsea team, I thought to myself, ‘If I join them and show them what I’m capable of, I’ll have a better chance of getting playing time.’ Thankfully, that’s exactly what happened.”

During the final minute of stoppage time on Sunday, Palmer’s playful nature was apparent as City received a free-kick near the Chelsea area. As the players gathered to strategize, Palmer also joined in, hoping to fit in as a companion rather than an adversary. However, a grinning Erling Haaland was not interested and quickly directed him elsewhere.

“I was simply joking,” Palmer explains. “I didn’t hear anything. Erling found it quite humorous, but I don’t think the rest of them did.”

Palmer exudes confidence and bravery in his demeanor. During his press conference for England, there were moments where his responses were curt and potentially awkward. When asked to compare Pep Guardiola and Pochettino, he simply shrugged and replied, “I don’t know. Next question.” As a child, which players did he pretend to be while playing in his garden? “Many players…too many.” When pressed for specific names, he mentioned Rooney, Ronaldo, and Messi among others.

However, it aligned with the demeanor of a confident young man who had command over any circumstance. This is his moment.

Source: theguardian.com