{"id":299565,"date":"2023-11-16T14:12:18","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T14:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=299565"},"modified":"2023-11-16T14:12:18","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T14:12:18","slug":"cole-palmer-explains-snubbing-pep-guardiola-as-player-loving-life-at-chelsea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/soccer\/cole-palmer-explains-snubbing-pep-guardiola-as-player-loving-life-at-chelsea\/","title":{"rendered":"Cole Palmer explains snubbing Pep Guardiola as player loving life at Chelsea"},"content":{"rendered":"

Palmer reflects on meteoric rise after first England call-up<\/h3>\n

The Premier League is such a serious business that light relief is hard to find but there was a moment of levity amid the taut drama of Sunday\u2019s eight-goal thriller between Chelsea and Manchester City. It came as City\u2019s brains trust were formulating plans for a free-kick. An extra head suddenly appeared as Chelsea\u2019s Cole Palmer leaned in on his former teammates\u2019 huddle, all ears.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just having a laugh to be honest. I think Erling found it pretty funny. I don\u2019t think the others did,\u201d said Palmer. Haaland started laughing before shoving him away. That little incident said, in its own way, as much about the 21-year-old Mancunian as the nerveless injury-time penalty which balanced the game of the season out at 4-4.<\/p>\n

Despite the stage and the stakes, he plays his football on instinct, rarely bothering to overthink things. It is an attitude which has seen him thrive this season at Chelsea after the potential head-spin of a \u00a342.5million move from his childhood club.<\/p>\n

After being part of the England side that won the European under-21s Championships four months ago, he suddenly finds himself in the full squad on the back of it. Pressing pause at St George\u2019s Park, Palmer allows himself a brief moment to reflect and assess.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been crazy. From winning the Euros to signing for Chelsea then getting called up here. It\u2019s all happened so fast. I am excited for it all,\u201d he said. \u201cI wasn\u2019t even thinking of an England call-up when I first went to Chelsea. I just wanted to play more games and have an opportunity to prove myself. Getting called up here is just a bonus.\u201d<\/p>\n

MUST READ: <\/strong> The case for and case against Raheem Sterling being in the England squad<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

City manager Pep Guardiola had assured him he would be given more opportunities this season and had picked him for the Super Cup final against Sevilla, a game in which he scored, but Palmer was unconvinced. \u201cYou know how good a manager Pep is and he gave me the opportunity and platform to kickstart my career so I’ll always be grateful to him,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut with the competition that was there, the players that were there, the players that they were going to try to sign, I wasn’t sure. Who knows what would have happened if I had stayed. Maybe I would have played more, maybe not.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I think the decision to go to Chelsea so far is paying off.\u201d Palmer\u2019s only issue with the move south is the traffic. With four goals and four assists in 14 appearances, the attacking midfielder is thriving under the tutelage of Mauricio Pochettino.<\/p>\n