Chelsea striker Cole Palmer dismissed recent comparisons to Blues legend Gianfranco Zola after his decisive performance in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle United on Sunday. Palmer, who scored the winning goal and assisted in the buildup to the opening strike, acknowledged Zola’s legendary status but admitted he only knows of the former Italy star from the FIFA video game series.
“I know he’s an icon on FIFA, so he must have been good,” the 22-year-old Palmer told Sky Sports. “To be honest, I didn’t really watch him play. Everyone says he was a great player, so thank you.”
Palmer’s standout moment came in the 47th minute when he collected the ball in midfield, dashed to the edge of the box, and drilled a low shot past Newcastle’s Nick Pope. This goal marks his seventh in just nine league appearances this season. Earlier in the match, Palmer orchestrated Chelsea’s opening goal by delivering a perfectly-timed, defense-splitting pass to Pedro Neto, who set up Nicolas Jackson to score.
Palmer, who joined Chelsea in summer 2023, made an instant impact with 22 league goals and 11 assists last season, a performance that earned him a spot in England’s Euro 2024 squad where he scored in the final against Spain. His creative vision and scoring prowess have drawn comparisons to Zola, who netted 80 goals for Chelsea in all competitions.
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Gianfranco Zola, who attended Sunday’s match, praised Palmer pre-game, calling him “very special” for his ability to anticipate plays before receiving the ball. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca echoed the sentiment, noting the similarity between Palmer and Zola.
“They’re similar in quality and vision,” said Maresca, who previously worked with Palmer during their time at Manchester City. “People come to the stadium to see players like him.”
Maresca also commended Chelsea captain Reece James, who delivered crucial defensive clearances in just his second game back from a long-term injury. “I really love Reece,” Maresca said. “On the pitch, he is a top player.”
With standout talents like Palmer and James, Chelsea fans are hopeful for a successful season.
