Manager Thomas Tuchel made the bombshell decision to remove Cole Palmer from the England squad for the World Cup, but the playmaker had been suffering from an injury season at Chelsea and his form had declined.
Cole Palmer left at home (Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Cole Palmer, who was controversially left out of England’s World Cup squad, has broken his silence. Chelsea star Palmer emerged as a key player for Euro 2024 under Gareth Southgate, but was one of the players shockingly left out of Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad.
The 24-year-old scored a sensational goal in the final to draw England level, demonstrating his game-changing ability and establishing himself as one of English football’s brightest talents. But Tuchel has downplayed Palmer alongside the likes of Harry Maguire, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Instead, the playmaker is enjoying his first summer without club or international tournaments since 2022. And he’s not “crying” about missing out on his first World Cup.
Speaking to iD magazine about a season marred by injuries that contributed to his absence, Palmer admitted: “This season hasn’t been the best, but it is what it is. I’m not crying over decisions that can’t be changed. I hope the players can make it to the end.”
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Palmer was also asked if he would watch the England match. “If I’m not doing anything, I’ll watch the game, yeah,” he added.
Palmer is laid-back about his plans before returning to Chelsea for pre-season training under new manager Xabi Alonso. “This summer I’m going to relax, take a break for the first time in three or four years, and get back to doing what I love.”
Palmer is coming off his leanest season since joining Chelsea, both in terms of goals and appearances. Fitness issues and the Blues manager’s merry-go-round ruined his season, and he paid the price for a dip in form in the year before the tournament.
“I think he is suffering from a lack of individual form within the club. He hasn’t been as decisive or as influential all season as he was last season,” Tuchel said of the former Manchester City starlet after announcing his squad.
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Cole Palmer failed to impress Thomas Tuchel (Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
“Secondly, he didn’t have much of an impact on us. His performance with us was never outstanding, it wasn’t good enough to make us think, ‘He’s coming no matter what.’
“That’s the reality. He had to go out with a few injuries and he didn’t have the impact we all expected him to have when he was in camp.”
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