Cole Palmer urged to take initiative ‘from first minute' by Chelsea's Enzo Maresca
Palmer appeared critical of the side's approach in their victory in the UEFA Conference League final last month, saying he got 'sick of getting the ball and going backwards and sideways'.
It was at that point he took control of the game against Real Betis in Wroclaw, creating two goals as the Blues came from behind to win 4-1.
Maresca was pleased with Palmer's display (Jane Barlow/PA)
Palmer was again influential as Chelsea began their challenge at FIFA's global summer tournament with a 2-0 win over LAFC in Atlanta on Monday.
'I had a short conversation with Cole and I said to him that I really like the way he was today,' Maresca told reporters. 'He took responsibility, showed initiative on the ball.
'He was trying to receive the ball, go one-v-one against players, and this is the Cole we expect.
'After the Conference League final, he said he was bored when receiving the ball, so he decided to do something different.
'The day after that interview, I said to him that he could do it from the first minute and why did he wait so long? Why not do the same after one minute?
'Today he was exactly doing that, and we are happy when he does that. I've said many times Cole is our best player, a top player, and hopefully he can continue to do the right things.'
Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez got Maresca's side off to a victorious start in Group D in front of a sparse crowd of 22,137 at the 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Their next outing is against Brazilian side Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
40 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Reo Hatate tells Celtic exactly where his focus is amid transfer murmurs as unseen advisor revealed
The midfielder has been tipped for a move to Serie A side Udinese this summer The 27-year-old was a key figure in the Celtic midfield engine room last season - with his absence felt by Brendan Rodgers side during the Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen. But despite being denied a domestic clean sweep last season, Hatate was able to claim Premiership and League Cup winners medals and is said to be attracting interest from across Europe. Udinese are said to be leading the race - with Zico pitching his former side to the Hoops' star. And it's the Brazilian icon's advice that has left a lasting impression on the Japan international - to go and win even more silverware. He told The Sun: "The moment we won the title, I felt a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment unlike anything I had ever felt before. "In the previous season, I was injured repeatedly and played only 16 league games. This year, I was able to play in many more and contribute. "I could also feel my growth as a player, defensively and in attack. I feel I have performed better than ever last season since joining Celtic. That is why I felt like I did when we won the league. "However, I also remember some golden words from Zico that former player Atsuto Uchida once said. They were, 'When you retire as a player, all that remains is the number of titles you have won'. "Hearing that, I'm proud to have added another league title to my career this season. "Winning cups and leagues is a cumulative effort. We play in a team and environment that allows us to aim for the title and we achieved it. "But after a while, people forget how well a player performed in that season and what kind of level they showed. "Numbers of goals and assists are there, but the record of winning a title will remain forever." That could hint that Hatate is only looking to make a move if he has a realistic shot a trophies - and he has told potential suitors he has grown as a player at Parkhead. He went on: "I feel like my experience in the Champions League has helped me grow. "When playing against stronger teams, I've had many opportunities to play side-by-side with the captain Callum McGregor, our main defensive midfielder. "By doing that, I began to observe the opponent's positioning more. "With high pressing becoming mainstream worldwide, when we build up from a low position, the player with the ball is generally free. "Someone will come to press that free player. At that time, I have become aware of who is coming to press and where there is an opening. "As a result, I was able to see who was where and how they would move to see where the space would open up. "This was not only true for deep positions, but also for higher positions in the opponent's half, which broadened my field of vision and options. "During the attacking process, I can play as a No 6 but in front of goal I can play as a No 10. "I feel I am able to judge when I should shoot or pass better than before, and this resulted in more goals and assists. "I have also become more aware of when players are coming to press and where openings can be." Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Jack Grealish can have City future after Club World Cup omission
The City manager appeared to have opened the door for Grealish to leave the Etihad Stadium when he omitted him from the 27-man playing group for this summer's tournament in the United States. That came after Grealish, a £100million signing from Aston Villa four years ago and one of the stars of the 2023 treble success, endured a difficult 2024-25 season, making just seven Premier League starts. Guardiola (left) gave Grealish (right) just seven Premier League starts last season (Mike Egerton/PA) Yet Guardiola, while offering no guarantees about the England international's prospects at City, says his absence is principally about allowing him to work on his game. Speaking at a press conference in Philadelphia ahead of City's tournament opener against Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca, Guardiola said: 'He had a conversation with the club and decided the best. 'Jack is an exceptional player but he didn't (play a lot). We decided he has to play. 'We're honest and he's honest. We decided the best was to stay (behind) and find that he can play, that he can come back to the player of the year of the treble and all his career at Aston Villa. 'But the fact is he didn't play much minutes the last two seasons. He has to come back to play and have the butterflies in his stomach that he can play every three days and show again the quality that he has. 'We decided don't come here. What happens I don't know but if he doesn't (leave) he is a player for Man City and he will be back.' Guardiola denied this meant he felt Grealish had lost hunger for the game, but he needs reasons to start picking him again. He said: 'The reason he didn't play is my decisions. Football is competing with each other – not just Jack, all of them. 'They compete (for) who deserves to play. The butterflies are an example of the tension and they happen for all the players. 'Over the last two years he didn't play much and I take responsibility for that, but he has to play and we reflected that it was better not to come here.' Another player not involved in the US is England right-back Kyle Walker, who spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan and appears set to leave the club. The 35-year-old has been linked with Everton but Guardiola was unwilling to discuss the matter. He said: 'I don't have any news. It's the same case for Jack. About the links with other teams, you have to ask (director of football) Hugo (Viana).'
Glasgow Times
6 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Cole Palmer urged to take initiative ‘from first minute' by Chelsea's Enzo Maresca
Palmer appeared critical of the side's approach in their victory in the UEFA Conference League final last month, saying he got 'sick of getting the ball and going backwards and sideways'. It was at that point he took control of the game against Real Betis in Wroclaw, creating two goals as the Blues came from behind to win 4-1. Maresca was pleased with Palmer's display (Jane Barlow/PA) Palmer was again influential as Chelsea began their challenge at FIFA's global summer tournament with a 2-0 win over LAFC in Atlanta on Monday. 'I had a short conversation with Cole and I said to him that I really like the way he was today,' Maresca told reporters. 'He took responsibility, showed initiative on the ball. 'He was trying to receive the ball, go one-v-one against players, and this is the Cole we expect. 'After the Conference League final, he said he was bored when receiving the ball, so he decided to do something different. 'The day after that interview, I said to him that he could do it from the first minute and why did he wait so long? Why not do the same after one minute? 'Today he was exactly doing that, and we are happy when he does that. I've said many times Cole is our best player, a top player, and hopefully he can continue to do the right things.' Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez got Maresca's side off to a victorious start in Group D in front of a sparse crowd of 22,137 at the 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Their next outing is against Brazilian side Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday.
