Cole Palmer arrived at Chelsea with high hopes and an assured touch. Early on, he delivered vital goals and a creative spark that hinted he might be their next breakout star. But recent weeks have told a different story.
He hasn’t scored in several games. Six to be exact. His frustration spilled onto the pitch during a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, when he missed a late opportunity and sank to the turf. Rather than condemning him, Manager Enzo Maresca remarked, “We can be almost happy with his reaction because he feels bad about the chance he missed.” That brief moment captured the mounting tension around Palmer’s form.
Mounting pressure at Stamford Bridge
There’s no outright panic inside the dressing room, but the numbers don’t lie. Palmer’s creative stats remain solid, yet Chelsea’s finishing woes mean his passes often go unrewarded.
“He wants to see if he can win trophies with Chelsea. He would only leave if he thought it was the right time and that won’t be this summer,” former Blues player William Gallas told Slingo.
Maresca insists the weight of expectation shouldn’t fall solely on one player. “We expect exactly what he can give us, but I said many times we cannot rely on him for every game,” the coach explained. “We are not worried about Cole at all.” There’s some truth to that. Chelsea’s entire attack has been blunt, with forwards missing clear chances that would otherwise boost Palmer’s assist tally.
It’s also clear that a young player will occasionally hit a rough patch no matter his potential. Fans have pointed out his frustration with teammates who fail to convert his passes into goals. The frustration could build further, with Chelsea risking losing Cole Palmer if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season. That’s a sobering thought for a club that spent over $1.2 billion in recent transfers.
For now, Palmer’s biggest challenge is maintaining composure and continuing to create opportunities. His manager describes him as a top talent who pushes himself to be the best, and those qualities don’t vanish overnight. In truth, his struggles aren’t his alone. They reflect a broader team problem: a lack of confidence and cohesion in the final third.
Chelsea hope that Palmer’s numbers will rise again once their finishing improves. Until then, the pressure grows. But if there’s one thing everyone agrees on, it’s that Cole Palmer has the skill to shine once more. Sometimes, that’s all a struggling team needs: a reminder of what made a player special to begin with.
