It has been such a disappointing season for Cole Palmer and that was all summed up for the Chelsea star when he was left out of England's World Cup squad on Friday morning
11:55, 23 May 2026
Cole Palmer
View Image
Cole Palmer has had a disappointing season for Chelsea and has missed out on the World Cup(Image: Michael Regan - The FA)
Cole Palmer's miserable season reached its pinnacle on Friday morning. The 24-year-old's rock-bottom moment was Thomas Tuchel leaving him out of his 26-man England squad for this summer's World Cup.
Given the name and brand of Palmer, the fact he will not play in football's biggest tournament is almost unfathomable. However, not even the most tribal of Chelsea supporters can make too much of a compelling case that he deserves to be going to the United States this summer.
On the face of it, Palmer's season can be summed up by just 10 goals in all competitions, while recording three assists in the process. Stats tell you one side of the story, but numbers cannot measure how unlike himself Palmer has looked for the majority of the campaign.
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
There are caveats in relation to Palmer's form; one being his fitness level. The England international has been plagued by a complex groin injury all season-long - one that sources have described as needing day-by-day care. One source said the injury could be painful one day and the next completely fine.
It has, at times, taken a stride out of Palmer's game. However, by Palmer's own admission, he has "turned a corner" toward the back-end of the season. There have been online rumours stating Palmer might need surgery, though Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane did not know when pressed on that on Friday: "I'm not a medical expert, so I don't know the detail around it, but Cole is fit and I think he showed that on Tuesday night and in the FA Cup final against Man City."
McFarlane is right in that aspect; Palmer has shown signs of returning to a level close to the one we know he has in his locker. As Tuchel watched Chelsea's FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City, though, the England manager's mind may have already been made up.
In many ways, Palmer's miserable season epitomises what has happened at Stamford Bridge over the last nine months. Since the start of the campaign in August, it has been a case of two steps back for Chelsea after being crowned Conference League and Club World Cup champions last summer.
Enzo Maresca departed on New Year's Day after his relationship with the club's board became extremely damaged. The Italian, who led Chelsea to the first major honours of BlueCo's tenure last season, informed the Blues in December that he had spoken to people at Man City over possibly replacing Pep Guardiola, should he leave. Almost six months on from Maresca's chaotic exit, the former Chelsea head coach is in pole position to take over from the departing Guardiola.
Article continues below
Then came Liam Rosenior through the Stamford Bridge door. Having already worked with BlueCo during his days at Strasbourg, many people - perhaps harshly - viewed Rosenior as a 'company hire'. After signing a six-and-a-half-year contract in west London, Rosenior's position as head coach was seen as untenable less than four months into his reign.
The off-the-pitch turbulence has been summed up by Chelsea's below-par showing on the field. Palmer is usually so reliable; someone the Blues have often relied on to take the game by the scruff of the neck, but this season he has looked a shadow of himself. Others have tried to step up to fill the Palmer-shaped void in the attack - Joao Pedro mainly - but when a team's creative cog is not working as it should, every single thing on a football pitch becomes more difficult.
Either way, and Palmer might not want to hear this now, a summer of relaxing - something he has not had since 2022, staggeringly, should do him and his fitness the world of good. Chelsea will be hoping they can squeeze Palmer one more time this afternoon as the Blues look to secure Europa League qualification against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.