Say it quietly, but Chelsea fans are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel after their 3-2 win over Newcastle United on Monday night.
Yes, Mauricio Pochettino and his players are still sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table, but certain players are now coming to the party and seriously proving their worth.
Michael Owen was keen to highlight Cole Palmer and how someone like Enzo Fernandez ‘rates him’ on the ball like Lionel Messi.
The former striker pointed out that Chelsea’s big-money signing knows how Lionel Messi takes the ball in ‘tight situations’ and he trusts and backs his club teammate to do the same, as he told Premier League Productions (11/03/24 at 10:00 pm).
That was proven when Enzo Fernandez passed the England playmaker the ball, even though he had Newcastle bodies around him, for his goal in the second half.
Despite the tight space, Cole Palmer took the ball, kept his composure, realised the goalkeeper was far to his right and brilliantly guided the ball into the near corner to put his team back into the lead.
That’s why the Manchester City academy product has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season, despite his team’s own form and struggles.
And it’s also a big reason why Michael Owen doesn’t just rate him, but the rest of his Chelsea teammates also.
Enzo Fernandez’s assist to Lionel Messi Cole Palmer
“It’s probably taken longer than people imagined, but they have some very good players in there like Cole Palmer, who was very good again,” said Owen.
“He is just in form, real form. I just love the way he plays. He scored a lovely goal tonight as well. You can give the ball to him in tight spaces. It’s an incredible skill. Not only that, if you have the trust of your teammates to pass you the ball in these tight spaces, then all of a sudden, you are away.
“But you have to earn that trust. Fernandez is no mug. He is a World Cup winner. He knows the players. He has played with, the likes of Messi before, he knows the players that can take the ball in such a situation. You see Palmer, he turns, he looks and takes the ball in these tight situations. Four players around him. Lovely right foot touch and then arrows it.
“That just showed to me, pictures say a million words in my eyes, but the way Fernandez passed him the ball when the four players were around him, just shows he is a good player. To have the trust of your players like that, it just goes to show me that he rates him.”
Cole Palmer at Euro 2024
Gareth Southgate was in attendance at Stamford Bridge and you feel he has to be thinking about selecting Palmer for Euro 2024.
In the attacking areas, there is a lot of competition, but there are also a number of senior players under-performing.
Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling are just a few. It would be a shame for Palmer, if any of those guys, are selected ahead of him in the summer.
Unless Palmer falls off a cliff, he should make the final 23 and, not only earn that golden ticket to Germany, but probably even start.
Whether it’s playing as a ten, or on either flank, Palmer can do it all and it’s why Southgate has to select him.
The post 'Incredible’: Michael Owen claims Enzo rates one Chelsea teammate like Messi after win v Newcastle appeared first on HITC.
from HITC https://ift.tt/J7yjgVD
No comments: