The response Palmer needed to deliver

Cole Palmer started the season looking determined to prove his struggles are behind him. The Chelsea star scored and assisted in Xabi Alonso’s first official match in charge, emerging as one of the biggest positives from the win over Álvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham after an extremely difficult year.

Palmer made an immediate impact by setting up João Pedro in the opening move of the game before later scoring Chelsea’s third following an assist from the Brazilian. It was the first time since early February that Palmer had scored and assisted in the same match, something he had not managed since facing Leeds United.

His performance produced another couple of remarkable numbers: five successful dribbles and 10 duels won, both in the same Premier League game for the first time in his career. After months of struggling to build any momentum, Palmer once again looked like a player capable of deciding games almost single-handedly.

A year that eventually took its toll

The contrast with last season is significant. Palmer suffered six different injuries, spent 114 days sidelined and missed 26 matches, a devastating loss for a Chelsea side already struggling to find consistency.

Those problems also had consequences with England. Thomas Tuchel left him out of the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that the attacking midfielder had not shown the same influence throughout the season as in previous campaigns.

“His record with us simply wasn’t outstanding,” Tuchel explained when defending one of the toughest decisions surrounding his squad. Palmer accepted the setback but made his intentions clear. “If you’re told you’re not good enough, then you’re going to want to prove people wrong,” he told The Times.

Xabi has found the right place for his talent

The summer gave Palmer something he desperately needed: continuity. He was able to spend an entire preseason working with Alonso and start fresh under a coach who quickly recognized exactly what he could offer.

“From day one, you can see he’s a special talent. It’s not easy to have a player like that,” Alonso said, while also praising the mentality Palmer brought back to training and his work to prevent the physical problems that derailed his previous campaign.

Perhaps the most interesting change, however, is tactical. Alonso brought back his familiar 3-4-3 against Fulham and deployed Palmer as one of the two attacking midfielders behind the striker, giving him freedom to drift between the lines and combine with teammates. It is an environment reminiscent of the one he created for Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen.

Freedom, but with one condition

Alonso has no intention of trapping Palmer inside a rigid system. He had already offered clues during preseason about how he planned to maximize his talent: “Different players need different connections. He’s very intelligent and you need to give him space to connect.”

That version of Palmer emerged against Fulham. He was allowed to find the areas where he could cause the most damage without abandoning the responsibilities demanded by his new coach.

“He played with responsibility, maturity… but also with freedom,” Alonso explained afterward. The Spaniard even admitted that he had “really enjoyed” watching Palmer play.

Chelsea have their difference-maker back

Palmer did not need many words to explain how he was feeling. Asked after the game how ready he was for the new season, he laughed alongside Morgan Rogers before replying: “Didn’t you watch the game?”

His answer summed up what had just happened on the pitch. After a year in which injuries repeatedly disrupted his rhythm, Palmer once again has fitness, confidence and a coach determined to create an environment that maximizes his best qualities.

For Alonso, unlocking that version of Palmer could be one of the defining challenges of his first season in London. Chelsea need plenty to fall into place if they are to compete for major trophies again, but few things will matter more than getting Palmer back to enjoying his football.

3 Key Takeaways From Cole Palmer’s Revival

• An immediate response: Palmer opened the season with a goal and an assist, something he had not achieved in the same game since early February.
• Xabi is betting on freedom: Alonso’s system is designed to give Palmer the space and connections to showcase his talent without removing his collective responsibilities.
• The injuries are finally behind him: after missing 26 matches last season, Palmer completed preseason and has started the new campaign with much-needed continuity.

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