Calum McFarlane says he disagrees with “the narrative that Cole Palmer isn’t playing well” for Chelsea.
Palmer has endured an injury-ravaged season, scoring just five non-penalty goals and registering three assists in 29 appearances.
Plenty of pundits have opined that his performances have fallen below the level of his first two seasons at Chelsea.
Palmer joined Chelsea from Manchester City in September 2023 and hit the ground running for the Blues, but his inconsistent form this term means there is some doubt over whether he will be named in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man England squad for this summer’s World Cup.
Chelsea’s interim head coach McFarlane, who also coached Palmer at City, has leapt to the 23-year-old Mancunian’s defence.
“In my first season at City, Cole was in the Under-21s,” McFarlane recalled. “He was literally just on the brink of breaking into the first team. So, I hadn't worked with Cole previously, other than watching him dominate U21s football and then break into the first team.
“It's been a difficult period for Cole. He's had his first injury that he's pretty much ever had in his career, and he's had to learn how to deal with that.
“I don't agree with the narrative that he isn't playing well. I think there are games where he can impact more. But there's also been a lot of occasions where he's created a lot of good chances for players.
“He can't control whether that's finished [off], he can just put the ball in the position that he needs it to be. I do think he's had some really good games in the last three months, and it's just a case of building that consistency.
“So, I'm really pleased with Cole. He shows us his talent every single day, his energy and his enthusiasm to play.”
McFarlane, 38, continued: “He's still a top, top player, one of the best in the world for me. So I have no concerns over Cole being ready to impact games from now to the end of the season. And hopefully in the World Cup, in big moments for England.”
The interim head coach was asked how much Palmer has changed since McFarlane first watched him with City’s U21s.
“There's not much difference, in all honesty,” McFarlane said. “He's the same person. He plays the game. We've all watched Cole Palmer enough to see the freedom that he plays the game with.
“He sees things that other people don't see. It was very similar. He was just doing it at a higher level against a higher level of opposition. But very much the same type of player.”
