"It was difficult because I was not playing" - Chelsea ace Cole Palmer opens up on tough Euro 2024 campaign with England
Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer has opened up on a difficult time he had during Euro 2024 despite coming on the back of a brilliant season with the Blues. The Englishman didn't start any of The Three Lions' seven games in the European championship although he did play an instrumental role as a substitute.
Palmer was a standout performer for the west London club in their otherwise turbulent season. The 22-year-old managed 27 goals and 15 assists in 48 appearances for the club across all competitions.
His scoring record helped him bag Chelsea's 'Player of the Year' award and Premier League's 'Young Player of the Year' award. Furthermore, he also found his name in former England manager Gareth Southgate's team for Euro 2024.
Despite scoring his spot-kick in the penalty shootout against Switzerland, assisting Ollie Watkins' 90th-minute goal against Netherlands in the semi-finals and scoring England's only goal in the 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final, Palmer stated he had a tough time.
Here's what he said in an interview with Sky Sports:
'[It was difficult because I was] not playing. You're going into a new group, you have lads who have been there a number of years. Obviously, being a new young player, all the lads did take me in to be fair, like they did with all the young players. So it was quite easy to settle in, but obviously not playing and thinking to yourself, 'Why?' and just questioning yourself."
When asked if his exclusion as a starter was due to an array of talented attacking options available at Southgate's disposal, the Chelsea forward opined:
"I didn't question my ability because I knew what I had done during the season. But you're just thinking like 'Why?', do you know what I mean? But I just thought that when I do get on, I'm just going to try and make an impact and do something."
The youngster recently signed a nine-year contract with the Blues that extends his association with the club till 2033.
Chelsea are reportedly leading the race to sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United
According to the German outlet Fussball.news, the Blues are leading the race to sign Jadon Sancho from The Red Devils. The Englishman was banished from United following a fallout with Erik ten Hag. He was sent on loan to his former club Borussia Dortmund.
Sancho managed to reach the final of the UEFA Champions League and has been pretty impressive since then. However, he was being tailed by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) but according to reports, negotiations have collapsed.
The Blues, who recently signed Pedro Neto from Chelsea, are eyeing yet another forward after Atletico Madrid reportedly rejected their €45 million offer for Joao Felix.
It is reported that Sancho could arrive at Stamford Bridge on a season-long loan with an option to buy. The Blues will reportedly offer two academy graduates as part of the deal.
Interestingly, the west London outfit are also willing to offload Romelu Lukaku, with the Belgian keen to reunite with Antonio Conte at Napoli. The 31-year-old is tied up in negotiations between the Blues and the Serie A side over the transfer of striker Victor Osimhen. Reports claim that Chelsea are in pole position to sign Osimhen as part of an exchange deal.