Cole Palmer inspired Chelsea's win over Real Betis in Conference League final
Despite his stellar performances in Blue, Palmer is yet to shine for England
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By DANNY MURPHY
Published: 17:30 EDT, 29 May 2025 | Updated: 17:30 EDT, 29 May 2025
Cole Palmer's match-winning performance for Chelsea in the Conference League final proved, once again, that the big occasions never faze the best players.
Palmer plays with a special freedom. He's a risk-taker who's able to seize any moment to alter the course of a game. Those players are rare.
Even when he wasn't scoring this season, I was never worried because he was creating chances and I'd seen enough to know what a wonderful talent he is.
Palmer showed great mental strength, too, against Real Betis. It would have been easy to get frustrated with the lack of ball and space but, when you are such an intelligent player, you know the game always becomes stretched and your chance will come.
When they did, he took them, providing two brilliant assists. Without Palmer, Chelsea don't win that game and without him they don't qualify for the Champions League.
I loved hearing Palmer say he was fed up with playing the ball backwards and sideways. He was verbalising what the great creative players think.
Cole Palmer impressed as Chelsea beat Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final
It's time for the Chelsea star to shine for England alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham
We live in a world where people are obsessed with ball retention. When I played, if my pass completion was over 75 or 80 per cent, I'd be annoyed. I'd been too safe. I hadn't been brave enough. I hadn't taken enough risks.
You can't play as a creative midfielder in a top team and not try to open up the opposition.
It frustrates me how safe so many creative players in the Premier League are. Someone has to take the responsibility.
Palmer always does. He is the epitome of bravery on the ball, a shining example to young players of how to make things happen. He has never failed to do that when I have watched him play. Never.
Palmer will light up bigger stages than the Conference League final, that's for sure. This is a player who's scored in a European Championship final, too, don't forget.
Thomas Tuchel has to find a way to get him into the England team. I would play him alongside Jude Bellingham with Declan Rice sitting in behind. Bellingham can always drop in if England need to be more defensive because he has the physicality to do that.
We need Palmer in those key areas because he continues to show he has the class and the courage to turn the biggest games on their head. He's a superstar.