Cole Palmer gave a reaction to social media “idiots and trolls” to the criticism he has received in recent months after ending his goal drought against Liverpool.
The Chelsea midfielder, who enjoyed such a stunning first season on Stamford Bridge in 2023/24, had only managed two target contributions in his previous 12 games that came on Sunday's victory over the new crowned competition champions.
But a player-of-the-match version and last-minute penalty, his first goal since January 14, placed that misery behind himself-from which Noni Madueke celebrated his strike by also mocking the criticism he received.
Palmer could have had a goal by that time, but was refused by the distant pole after he had defeated Alisson from a tight corner in a show in which the midfielder of England looked at his best.
After the game with Sky Sports, Palmer spoke back on a few comments that were aimed at his personal struggles on the pitch. The 22-year-old said that they did not influence him that his own criticism of his performances had let him feel as if he “dropped the team”.
“**** happens,” he told Sky Sports about his almost four months of spell without a goal. “It gives me more fight to do well, not only for myself, but also for my team.
“Nowadays, social media are full of idiots, the trolls and whatever. I don't pay attention to that. I am happy to score today, but I have to keep improving and trying to achieve new levels.
“If you get risks and don't score … you let your team disappoint your team at the end of the day. I feel that I am mentally strong anyway, so whatever people say, it doesn't bother me. I have grown up all the time.
“I am proud to help the team and if I don't, I am not happy. Today I felt like myself. I felt confident, I tried things, playing the first time, playing for free, playing for free and when you have him [Moises Caicedo] Next to you it is a dream. “
Redknapp: Form is temporary, class is permanent
Jamie Redknapp said that Palmer is “too good” to have stayed out of shape for the long term, given the level of impact he had made in his first 18 months at Stamford Bridge.
“We always realize that form is temporary and the class is permanent,” he said on Super Sunday. “It is too good to be influenced for a long period.
“You could see it today, it seeped out of him. He played with real freedom and enjoyed his game.
“If things don't go well for you, that's what you have to do.
“Everything he did was effortless. It was a real joy. Football has players like he needs. They do things differently. If he gets it, it's like time standing still.”
Former Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge brought a particularly tribute to Palmer's determination to block noise and assess himself according to his own standards.
“I appreciate how much he gives,” he said. “When he does interviews, he is open about how he feels. You can see how much proud he takes in football. It's not about what everyone thinks – it's about what he thinks. If you set your standards so high and you don't get it, it hurts. I've been there. I have been there.
“If you play at a big club, there will be criticism, but what I liked is that he doesn't care.
“Some things can slide through the cracks, because people send you a one-liner here or there, but it is best to concentrate on the best you can be.
“He is very proud of that. His teammates too, because they understand how hard he works. He is an incredible player and all top players in the world have experienced difficult periods.”