"I remember Watkins coming on [in the final], and I was thinking, why not me?" - Cole Palmer recalls frustration with England role at Euro 2024
Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer has opened up on his frustration with his limited role for the Three Lions at Euro 2024. The star midfielder did not make a single start for his country in the tournament, appearing five times as a substitute in Germany.
Palmer took Europe by storm after leaving Manchester City for Chelsea in the summer of 2023. The 22-year-old ended the season as the Premier League's Young Player of the Season and the Chelsea Player of the Year before he was called-up to the England squad.
Then-England manager Gareth Southgate opted to trust other players ahead of the Chelsea man, leading him to feel frustrated on the sidelines. The talented midfielder spoke with GQ about his experience at the time, stating that he felt like he had to be playing, particularly after the season he had.
Palmer also pointed out that before his introduction in the final against Spain, he was itching for a chance to get on the pitch. He said (90Min):
"It was frustrating at England, to be fair. Not to say that the players aren't good. But just coming off the back of the season I had, the form I was in, everything I was doing was coming off, so I'm not playing in the first two games even when the team was struggling, it was a bit like, 'why?'. Do you know what I mean?"
"If you bring me on [in] the third game and I don't do anything, then I can't really say anything. I just had to try and force my way in. I remember Watkins coming on [in the final], and I was thinking, why not me?"
Cole Palmer did not feature in either of the Three Lions' first two group games at Euro 2024, against Serbia and Denmark, and made his tournament debut against Slovenia. The Chelsea man appeared as a substitute in all of the remaining games in the tournament, providing an assist for the winning goal in the semi-final.
The Englishman came off the bench after 70 minutes of the final against Spain with his side trailing and scored his first goal of the tournament within three minutes of his introduction. The Three Lions lost the game, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring the winner four minutes from time.
"I wasn’t even gonna go to Chelsea" - Cole Palmer on his move to Chelsea
Cole Palmer has been a sensation in a Chelsea shirt, but the midfielder has acknowledged that he had to be persuaded to move to Stamford Bridge. The England international is in his second season with the Blues, having joined them for a reported £42.5 million in the summer of 2023.
The 22-year-old spoke with GQ about a range of topics, including his switch from boyhood club Manchester City to Chelsea. He stated that he was training with the Cityzens and joined the Blues only after a fee was agreed.
"I wasn’t even gonna go to Chelsea. I got persuaded. I remember training on a Wednesday at City in the afternoon, and the news was... they’re trying to agree a fee. Every time the ball went out I’d ask the kit man if they’ve agreed the fee yet."
Cole Palmer was settled at Manchester City at the start of the 2023-24 season, having helped England U-21s win the Euros over the summer. He scored in the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup finals before joining Chelsea.