Cool as you like: Cole Palmer at the double
Chelsea Football Newsletter
The England international was the Blues’ matchwinner as he scored twice and laid on a third for Joao Pedro as Paris Saint-Germain were stunned 3-0 to win the first edition of the new 32-team Club World Cup.
Chelsea had qualified for the competition as 2021 winners of the Champions League and had finished fourth in the Premier League last season while winning the Conference League.
Palmer felt critics of the Blues’ style of football and participation in Europe’s third-tier competition were silenced as they lifted the Club World Cup trophy at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
“It’s a great season — even better because everyone doubted us before the game,” he said. “We knew that. We put out a fight against a great team.
“I like finals,” he said, when reminded he often raises his game in big matches. “It happened again.
Read More
Palmer shines as Chelsea stun PSG to be crowned world champions
Maresca tactics leave Chelsea on top of the world as exhausting season ends
Enrique hits Joao Pedro as fight breaks out after Club World Cup final
See the Caribbean in full colour at Wyndham Alltra Punta Cana
“The gaffer [Enzo Maresca] put a great game plan out. He knew where the spaces were going to be. He freed me up as much as possible, and I just had to repay him by scoring some goals.
“He’s building something special, something important. Everyone has talked a lot of s*** about us all season, but I feel like we’re going in the right direction.”