Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly believes Cole Palmer needs to develop a “killer” mentality to be recognised as a “top player”.
After seeing what the 24-year-old has produced at Stamford Bridge over the last three seasons, Desailly told MrRaffle.com that, while he has no doubts about his ability, he wants to see him take his game to the next level by being more demanding of himself and his teammates:
“I feel that mentally, the talent is there—no doubt—but mentally he’s not a killer. Each top player has to be a killer inside himself. He wants to win trophies, he wants to be the best, and he’s ready to work hard to become the best. I feel that Palmer is satisfied if he has to stay, okay; if he has to go, okay. He doesn’t seem to have a problem with anything.”
“Because of the level he has reached today, he has to step up. Even though he’s young, he has to protect his status and take responsibility for success and also for the problems the team is facing. He needs to ask the coach to stop putting him right, left, up, down, striker, or on the right. He needs to say, “No, I want to play as a number 10. I am capable of it, adapt the system to me.” So he’s not yet a killer. Talented, but no killer.”
Palmer needs to show hunger
As Desailly rightly points out, Chelsea’s no.10 does seem to have a very laid-back personality. It is no surprise that his nickname is “Cold”.
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However, to be among the elite players in world football, you have to have fire in your belly. Without out, Palmer’s career could drift.
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Of course, Palmer has had other issues over the last year. A troublesome groin problem picked up at last summer’s Club World Cup limited his mobility in the first half of the season.
However, changes in the dugout definitely hindered him when he finally recovered full fitness. Xabi Alonso was able to platform a prodigious talent like Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen, so it will be hoped he can do the same with Palmer next campaign.
Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here