Cole Palmer Fires Back at Chelsea Critics with Savage X-Rated Comeback
Cole Palmer responded to Chelsea's detractors following the Blues' historic triumph as the inaugural champions of the revamped Club World Cup, declaring that the squad is "heading in the proper direction".
Palmer dominated Sunday's final encounter, scoring a brace and providing an assist in a commanding 3-0 victory over heavily favored Paris Saint-Germain, capping off an impressive debut season under head coach Enzo Maresca.
Optimism surrounded Chelsea at the beginning of the domestic season, but a downturn in performance during the new year triggered substantial criticism directed at both Maresca and Palmer. The England star was eager to address his critics following the match conclusion.
"It's an incredible sensation," he shared with DAZN. "Even more satisfying because everyone questioned us prior to the match, we were aware of that. To deliver a performance like we did, it's excellent.
"The manager devised an outstanding strategy. He identified where the opportunities would emerge. He attempted to liberate me as much as he could and I simply needed to reward him by finding the net.
"He's constructing something remarkable, something significant. Everyone's been talking nonsense about us throughout the season but I believe we're moving in the correct direction."
Chelsea's objective for the upcoming season will be to advance and enhance their fourth-place standing from 2024-25. Maresca's team has returned to the Champions League and momentum is building following a string of outstanding displays in the United States.
"We have already demonstrated to the world, so what we must do is maintain consistency," goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, who delivered an exceptional performance against PSG, informed club media. "We will only continue to improve.
"The players are youthful, 21 years old, 22 years old. Picture when these athletes reach 24, 25, 26. We will become a formidable team that achieves numerous victories and performs excellently. We're destined for great success."