Cole Palmer enjoyed the evidence of Chelsea's doubters, because they claimed the club World Cup Glory with an excellent 3-0 win over European Champions Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey.
Palmer found the same corner of the network of Gianluigi Donnarumma twice in eight half minutes before he set Joao Pedro for the third goal of Chelsea when they claimed their second trophy of the season after their victory of the conference.
Paris Saint-Germain was heavily depicted to lift the trophy and to copy a quadruple fourth after the thrashing of Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-final, but could not recover after the unbridled first half of Chelsea and that Joao Neves had sent for a haircut on Marc Cucurella.
The goals of Palmer came almost a year after he scored in the last loss of England 2024 in Spain, but this time there was never doubt that they would lead to a victory that, according to the 23-year-old, was all the sweeter due to the expectations of the pre-match.
“It is clearly a great feeling,” said Palmer on Dazn. “Even better, because everyone clearly doubted us before the competition.
“But to go outside and to fight the way we did against a great team, it's good.
“I love the final and it happened again,” he added to his goals, which was equal to his total for his previous 29 performances for Club and Country combined and took him a total of 18 for the season.
“The Gaffer has turned off a great game plan. He knew where the space would be. I just had to pay him back and score some goals.
“He builds something special, something important,” he added from head coach Enzo Maresca. “I feel that we are going in the right direction.”
Maresca said: “Today we found a position for him where there was room to attack.
“I am happy for Cole, but the trouble of all players has been fantastic.”
In a showpiece with long-term typical before and half-time shows more typical of NFL games, and viewed by US President Donald Trump, who later participated in the celebrations of Chelsea, Maresca insisted that he saw the victory coming before their 22nd minute opener.
“No words for the players,” he said. “They deserve it. It's a good time.
“For me we won the game in the first ten minutes. In the first ten minutes we set the pace for the way we want to play. We were very good.
“Unfortunately with the weather conditions it is not easy to do for 90 minutes, but I think we won the game in the first ten minutes.”
Chelsea is now confronted with a quick change of the new season and starts their Premier League campaign live on Sky Sports against Crystal Palace in just a month on August 17.
“Our future is very exciting,” Maresca added, “but I am more excited for three weeks off!”
Analysis: Zorgvrij Palmer shines on a large stage
Nick Wright from Sky Sports:
Palmer was depicted on a scooter by Times Square in the construction of the final. He enjoyed the same childish freedom on the field in the Metlife Stadium.
The 23-year-old had only scored twice in his previous 29 performances that entered the game. The second half of this epic season has not always been easy for him. But he has realized his nickname with his finishes for the first two goals of Chelsea.
Both were shipped with infallible quiet, out of reach of the towering figure of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was only defeated once the tournament, and in the same exact corner of the net.
He showed his creative skills for the third goal, punishing space that was offered to him by Paris Saint-Germain while he was wearing the ball before he fell perfectly timing for Joao Pedro.
He continued in the same spirit, played with a carefree Swagger, even when Paris Saint-Germain began to lose their heads, at one point cheers the crowd when he held the ball in the game by backing the legs of Fabian Ruiz.
He dealt with his interaction with US President Donald Trump with the same apparent nonchalance as he collected the medal of his winner and the best player of the tournament prize. But as Paris Saint-Germain now knows, this is a player who is taken seriously.