Danny Murphy: The competition -winning performance of Cole Palmer for Chelsea in the final of the Conference League again proved that the large occasions never look the best players.
Palmer plays with special freedom. He is a risk founder who can grab any time to change the course of a game. Those players are rare.
Even when he didn't score this season, I never worried because he was creating opportunities and I had seen enough to know what a great talent he is.
Palmer also showed great mental force against real betis. It would have been easy to get frustrated by the lack of ball and space, but if you are such an intelligent player, you know that the game will always be stretched and your chance will come.
When they did, he took them and offered two brilliant assists. Without Palmer, Chelsea does not win that game and without him they will not qualify for the Champions League.
I thought it was great to hear Palmer say he was tired of playing the ball backwards and sideways. He was reversed what the great creative players think.
We live in a world where people are obsessed with ball retention. When I played, if the completion of my pass was more than 75 or 80 percent, I would be irritated. I had been too safe. I hadn't been brave enough. I had not taken enough risks.
You cannot play as a creative midfielder in a top team and not try to open the opposition.
It frustrates me how safe so many creative players are in the Premier League. Someone must take responsibility.
Palmer always does that. He is the embodiment of courage on the ball, a radiant example for young players of how they can make things happen. He never failed when I have seen him play. Never.
Palmer will light up larger stages than the final of the Conference League, that's for sure. This is a player who also scored in a final of the European Championship, don't forget.
Thomas Tuchel must find a way to get him to the English team. I would play him next to Jude Bellingham with Declan Rice in the back. Bellingham can always come in if England has to be more defensive because he has the physicality to do that.
We need Palmer in those important areas because he continues to show that he has the class and the courage to put the biggest games on their heads. He is a superstar.