Cole Palmer opens up on his rise to the top: ‘I’m just a normal kid’ | OneFootball

Cole Palmer says his rise to becoming a household name since his move to Chelsea has taken a lot of getting used to.

The 23-year-old has established himself as one of the Premier League’s brightest young talents since moving to west London, winning the young player of the season award in his debut campaign with the club and scoring 15 league goals last season to help his side to qualify for the Champions League.

“It has been quick in terms of how fast it has happened,” Palmer said, reflecting on his last couple of years. “It’s a nice feeling and if I keep performing and keep doing stuff hopefully it will get better.”

Palmer has had to deal with going from being a “normal kid”, as he puts it, to being recognised everywhere he goes, and opening up on how his life has changed, he said: “At the start it was a bit like, woah, but I’ve got used to it.

“I’m just a normal kid so when people do that it’s kind of like, why me?

“I still do the same things now as I did before I came to Chelsea. I just try and think that it’s just a game of footy. It’s not life or death so try and enjoy it.

“I like to go play five-a-side and go the astro and that, and do normal things.”

Palmer endured his first real difficult spell at Chelsea last season, which included a run of 12 league games without scoring for the England international.

But having helped his side to a 2-0 win over LAFC in his side’s first Club World Cup game, and having taken the number 10 shirt from Mykhailo Mudryk, Palmer looks in prime position to return to top form.

Explaining his decision to take the number 10 shirt, Palmer said: “I’ve worn number ten growing up and all my life and I wanted the number.”

He also says he plans to speak to team-mate Mudryk, who is facing a possible lengthy ban from football after being charged with breaching FA anti-doping rules.

“I’ve not spoken to Misha yet but I will speak to him when the time is right,” he said.

“Obviously he’s got a lot going on and it’s not really my place to get involved at the minute but I will speak to him.”

Palmer will be hoping to help Chelsea to their second trophy since he joined the club, having played a pivotal role in the Blues winning the Conference League in May.

The youngster attracted attention not just for his performance in the final, but for his post-match comments in which he said he felt “bored” and wanted to do something different during the game.

“We had a bit of a joke about it,” he said when asked if he had spoken to boss Enzo Maresca about those comments.

“My comments weren’t towards the manager or anything. It was just a personal thing. In the game I felt I was being a bit safe and that’s where the comment came from, where I wanted to get the ball and try and do something different to what I was doing previously.”

Palmer also says Maresca has afforded him the freedom to make things happen on the pitch, continuing: “Obviously you can’t take the p*** and do whatever you want and stuff but I feel like he still gives you a bit of room to try and do what I do.”

Chelsea take on Brazilian side Flamengo in their next Club World Cup game, and despite the extra burden on the legs that a summer tournament brings, Palmer believes it will benefit his side.

“Obviously a game every three days in this heat is difficult but I think it’s bringing us closer together as a team so we’re enjoying it,” he said.