‘Like a kid in the street’ – Palmer’s form encapsulates ‘happy’ Chelseapublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 3 October
It is still early days for Enzo Maresca at Chelsea but I do think he is winning the fans over.
Chelsea are a team made up of a lot of young players but they do still have a lot of experience between them. A lot of money has been spent – and there will always be talk around that and the long contracts – so that has added a bit more pressure.
The Blues have only lost to Manchester City this season and they are playing really well and adapting to Maresca’s style. That takes time as it is a process so patience has to come with that. The important thing is that the players are buying into what he is trying to do at the club and the players look happy.
There is always going to be room for improvement, especially in such a young side, but the fact they have started well does mean media attention has come off Maresca.
That has taken pressure off the players and it shows as they look to be playing with freedom and confidence now.
And of course it helps when you have Cole Palmer in your side.
In a struggling Chelsea team last season, he still scored 20-plus goals and he has started this season exactly where he left off.
Palmer is probably the most in-form player in the Premier League at the minute and the way he plays the game is like a kid in the street. He is just so comfortable on the ball.
Maresca has found him a position that is getting the very best out of him and the players around him really trust him. That gives him the confidence to express himself and his goals speak for themselves in terms of his quality.