Chelsea star Cole Palmer has revealed that he told Aston Villa rival Morgan Rogers that he would win the Player of the Match trophy prior to their meeting on Sunday.
The Blues marched on with a commanding 3-0 win over Unai Emery's side on Saturday thanks to goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez and the England international. The triumph took Chelsea into third ahead of another gruelling week which features trips to Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur.
Palmer has come under fire in recent weeks after performances dipped below the expectations that he forged during the early stages of his Stamford Bridge career. He returned to the scoresheet with a superb left-footed effort curling into the top corner - leaving Emi Martinez rooted to the spot.
Following the triumph, Palmer pulled up the curtain to show a sneak preview into how he prepares for matches. He displayed how he enjoyed a back-and-forth with former City teammate and now international partner and close friend Morgan Rogers.
On the social media network Snapchat, Rogers began: "No goals against Villa," to which the 22-year-old replied: "Player of the match is comin (sic) back with me.
The Villa playmaker responded with the two duelling during last season's meeting at Villa Park. Palmer had the last laugh posting on his Instagram story with the Player of the Match award accompanied by a screenshot of the conversation with Rogers.
"It was a very good performance on and off the ball, I think we competed quite well," the Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said following the win. "We are doing that since we started, sometimes better and sometimes worse. I said many times, I think we are in the right direction.
"To be honest, I do not know. I said after the Leicester game; no matter who the other team is, it is important to try and play in the way we want to on and off the ball.
"When we do this and we get three points, we are for sure happy. I think the performance was very good and the way we prepared the game. They are a very difficult team, they are top defensively.
"It's not easy to find space. They don't press so you have to be patience. We were very aggressive. Nicolas Jackson scored a goal but what he was doing off the ball is what we need."
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Cole Palmer of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's second goal from the penalty spot with team mate Jadon Sancho during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Stamford Bridge on September 28, 2024
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