Palmer sets sights on "strange, weird" Man City return after Guardiola message
Cole Palmer goes back to Manchester City for the first time since his £42.5 million defection to Chelsea - and he fancies another tear-up.
The England forward has contributed 12 goals and nine assists since his shock move to Stamford Bridge six months ago - including a last-gasp penalty in the crazy 4-4 draw with City in November. Palmer, 21, admits it will be “strange and weird” when he returns to the Etihad on Saturday, hoping to show Pep Guardiola he sacrificed a jewel.
He called Guardiola’s bluff after asking to go out on loan for a year to gain more regular playing time and the Blue Moon messiah gave him an ultimatum: “You’re either staying or you’re getting sold.”
Now Palmer faces a big eight days - a return to his birthplace followed by the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool - after supplying two assists in added time as Chelsea burgled a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.
The Wythenshawe wizard has become the Blues’ most productive catalyst in the final third, and if there’s another eight-goal feast at the Etihad this weekend, Palmer is likely to be in the thick of it.
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Palmer (left) registered two assists in the win over Crystal Palace (MDI/REX/Shutterstock)He said: “I don’t know [if it will be another classic] but it will be a tough game, won’t it? Yes, I am looking forward to going back to the Etihad - it will be strange and weird but I am looking forward to it and the team is looking forward to it.
“I came to Chelsea to get minutes and play week in and week out because obviously at City that wasn’t happening. I came here to get an opportunity and thanks to the club that’s happening now. I just need to keep going and go up some more levels.”
Asked if he was savouring the chance to show Guardiola what he was missing, Palmer said: “Yes, I just try to do that every game, so we’ll see.”
Palmer scored a late penalty to rescue a point for Chelsea in November's 4-4 draw (Getty Images)Chelsea’s Jekyll-and-Hyde season continues to veer between £1 billion worth of promise and impoverished under-achievement. But consecutive 3-1 wins at Aston Villa and Palace - where they were feeble for 45 minutes before Palmer was switched to his preferred role on the right flank - have reignited their season.
He credits boss Mauricio Pochettino ’s man-management for keeping the dressing room mood stable, but Chelsea’s vast investment in their squad requires a return on owner Todd Boehly’s largesse.
Palmer said: “It was a big win versus Villa and to win again at Palace was good for the momentum. There’s always a lot of talk, and you know what football fans are like - Chelsea is a big club, we’ve seen them win many things for a long time and if we don’t get results, they are going to be on to us.
“But I think you’ve seen in the last two games that we are trying to stick together in our development and to keep going as a team. The manager helps us all every day. It’s just little conversations and telling us what we need to do. He supports us massively and credit to the manager for keeping us all together.
“He has been amazing [with me] from the first day. When I first came in, he just put his arm around me and gave me the freedom and confidence to go out there and play so, yes, I am enjoying it.
"We have meetings and he believes in us. We believe in ourselves but everyone is going to talk if you’re not doing well. We just need to try and block it out – and focus on ourselves.”
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