Cole Palmer made a rare media appearance on Friday afternoon and was in good spirits following his England World Cup squad omission
Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer during a press conference(Image: Ayush Kumar)
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While Cole Palmer is unquestionably a ridiculously talented footballer, the Chelsea attacker is not so good at doing nothing.
Not many of us are. When you're so used to doing something non-stop, playing football in Palmer's instance, it can be difficult to acclimatise to doing anything but that.
This summer, after a below-par season for Palmer at Chelsea, the 24-year-old was left out of England’s World Cup squad and given an extended seven-week break - something that took a lot of getting used to.
Asked if he knew what to do in his time off, Palmer said: "Nah, not in the first week. It was strange. I didn't know where to go.
"I went on holiday and I was thinking, 'where do I go next?'. And checking when I was back in. To be fair, I got bored after like six weeks.
"I was sat in Marbella thinking, 'I want to go back in', and I never thought I'd think that."
Since becoming a professional footballer, Palmer has suffered from the relentless nature of the sport. Being such a talent, Palmer is usually one of the first names on the squad list but this year, he was given his first summer off in his senior career.
Palmer is not accustomed to such setbacks and new manager Xabi Alonso sensed that. "When I got told I wasn’t going to the World Cup, I think he knew, so he messaged me," recalled the former Manchester City attacker.
"I can't remember what he said. I think he said don’t worry about it or whatever, normal stuff. It was nice."
Asked about his desire to win back his England place, Palmer added: "I'm not really thinking about that now, to be honest. I’m just looking forward to the season with Chelsea, and to be honest, I’m not too bothered about that.”
Not all of Palmer's woes last season can be attributed to a singular reason but his persistent groin injury certainly didn’t help in his World Cup bid. Sources describe Palmer's problem from last season as complex and one that needed day-by-day attention.
Surgery was an option for Palmer, who answered in a typically nonchalant manner: "I went to Sweden or Denmark - one of those countries - to see a doctor. We did speak about it, but I didn’t end up getting it.”
Palmer continued: "I didn't really know how to deal with it. The first few months, with me being injured, I just wanted to go out and play, which I probably shouldn't have done.
"Obviously I couldn't play how I wanted to play. It was a bad season personally with injuries and stuff but I feel good now. The seven weeks obviously helped. I'm ready to go again."
"Naturally," added Palmer when asked if there is extra hunger for him to improve next season. "It's like anything; if someone told you that you're essentially not good enough to get in the squad, then you’re going to think, like, alright, whatever then, try to go that extra harder."
Palmer cannot wait to start proving his doubters wrong next season and he will get to do that alongside his partner in crime Morgan Rogers. The duo are close friends from their time together in the Manchester City academy and Rogers has now joined Palmer at Chelsea after the Blues broke their transfer record by paying Aston Villa £117million.
Xabi Alonso with Morgan Rogers
Xabi Alonso with new Chelsea signing Morgan Rogers(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
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"Everyone knows how good he is," Palmer said of the incoming Rogers. "Obviously he’s one of my best friends so I am very happy about it."
The two could be doing their iconic 'cold' celebration together on the Stamford Bridge pitch, but that will come with risk for Rogers. Palmer joked he will send the bailiffs round Rogers' house if he is seen shivering in celebration.
Asked about who did the celebration first, Palmer said: "This is just the media, this! We've never spoken about it. It's one of them. He does it. I do it.
"I've trademarked it so if he tries to do anything, he will have the bailiffs at his door [laughs]. Nah, we'll do it together, I think."
Palmer does indeed have the celebration trademarked, as of November 2025, and it runs all the way until November 2034. But it sounds like he will let his mate off.