"Obviously it's up to the manager now" – Chelsea star Cole Palmer reacts to praise from Roy Keane after first minutes at Euro 2024
Chelsea star Cole Palmer has revealed that he is delighted to receive praise from Roy Keane for his brilliant outing in England's recent draw at the UEFA Euro 2024.
Palmer, who relished a breakout season at the Blues in the 2023-24 season, came on to replace Bukayo Saka in England's 0-0 draw against Slovenia on Tuesday. He completed 12 of 12 passes and registered a shot in just 19 minutes of action in the Euro 2024 contest.
After the end of The Three Lions' final Group C encounter of the Euro 2024, Keane lavished praise on Palmer. He told ITV (h/t SPORTbible):
"He's so unpredictable, he can beat a man, go left or right. A lot of brilliant players affect the game, when he came on, you knew he was going to affect the game. Every time he got it, we were looking at him. I'm hard to impress and I'm thinking 'something is going to happen'. Every time he gets the ball you think something is going to happen."
Hinting that the Chelsea star should start for England, Keane added:
"He will think he should be in that starting XI. He won't think 'I'm learning and I'm glad to be here'. He will be looking at Gareth, like the big personalities do, thinking 'get me out there'."
Asked to opine on Keane's recent remarks about him, Palmer replied:
"Yeah you know it's always nice to hear, especially coming from someone like Roy Keane who played internationally and at Manchester United so it's nice to hear. But obviously it's up to the manager now for what he wants to do."
So far, the Chelsea star has scored once in five matches for England.
N'Golo Kante credits Chelsea for fine form for national team at Euro 2024 tournament
At a recent press conference, France midfielder N'Golo Kante was asked about his slightly advanced role in midfield for his national team at the Euro 2024. He replied (h/t Metro):
"You have to know how to do it at the right time. These are things that I learned to repeat at Chelsea. We will say that it is also the maturity and sensitivity to do it at the right time with the French team. For the moment it is working well."
Kante, 33, has started all three of France's Euro 2024 matches so far, partnering Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot in a 4-3-3 system.
Before joining Al-Ittihad on a free transfer last year, Kante featured in 269 outings for Chelsea and helped them lift a total of six silverwares.