Cameron Smith
Cole Palmer, Joao Felix, Chelsea
© IMAGO
Enzo Maresca has admitted that Cole Palmer and Joao Felix are “different from the rest” following Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez and Palmer helped the Blues to their third consecutive win in all competitions and lifted them up to third place in the Premier League table.
Chelsea dominated the entire game at Stamford Bridge and eased their way to victory to extend their unbeaten run to six matches.
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Palmer’s strike was the pick of the bunch, with the England international curling a sublime effort into the top corner in the 83rd minute to score just his second goal in his last nine appearances for club and country.
He was replaced by the aforementioned Felix in the dying embers of the game and Maresca has admitted that the pair stand out from the rest of Chelsea’s first-team squad.
“Cole Palmer and Joao Felix are the players that make people pay for tickets,” Maresca told reporters after Sunday’s match (as per Nizaar Kinsella). “It doesn't mean the rest are not good but they are different from the rest.”
Felix has only started one Premier League match so far this season, versus Leicester City last week, but he has impressed during Chelsea’s Europa Conference League campaign.
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After the win on Sunday, Palmer told Sky Sports: “Aston Villa are a good team, so to win and go higher up the table is good.
“I think, if I go out and enjoy my football, the goals and assists will come. It is all down to the manager - the desire that he puts into the sessions and what the players give to him.
“If we keep winning, I'm sure we will be near the top four. We are just trying to keep going and win plenty of games.”
Chelsea have picked up 25 points in 13 Premier League matches so far this campaign and they are currently top of the Europa Conference League.