Cole Palmer’s personality won’t change with success – Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca

Enzo Maresca believes that even being the best player in the Premier League wouldn’t change the personality that made Cole Palmer so successful at Chelsea.

Palmer made Premier League history against Brighton & Hove Albion by becoming the first player in the competition’s history to score four goals in the first half of the game, giving Chelsea a 4-2 win that moved them within a point of Arsenal Manchester City at the top of the table.

Six goals and four assists in his first six appearances this season is an ominous sign for anyone hoping to see Palmer deviate from the spectacular standards he set in a groundbreaking 2023/24 season, and Maresca is confident the 22nd -year-old will not allow any praise or award to change the qualities that have given him his meteoric rise to stardom.

“I told Cole he scored four goals, but he could have scored two or three more,” Maresca said after the game. “It’s good that he’s still hungry and ambitious.

“I know Cole from many years ago, I had him for a whole season with the U23s at Manchester City. The best thing he has is that he is the same boy today as he was three or four years ago. Goals, assists, best player in the Premier League – that doesn’t change who he is.

“He’s a simple, humble guy, and that’s the most important thing for me.”

Palmer’s four goals inspired Chelsea to victory over Brighton (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Maresca added: “He is a top player. Nowadays, young players in football are changing very quickly. They score a goal and think they are already (a star). Cole has scored a lot of goals, a lot of assists, he’s a top player, but he never changes and that’s the most important thing.

“A lot of good things happened in his life as a professional that gave him the chance to change, but he didn’t change. That means he will probably always stay the way he is.”

Chelsea next play at home against Gent in the Conference League on Thursday before returning to the Premier League with a home game against Nottingham Forest on October 6th.

Go deeper

The briefing: Chelsea 4-2 Brighton – Historic four goals for Palmer but the Blues still lack control

(Image above: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)