Wednesday | 15 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Wednesday | 15 January 2025 | Epaper

Chelsea star Palmer has nothing to prove to Man City: Pochettino

Published : Sunday, 21 April, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 295
LONDON, APRIL 20: Mauricio Pochettino is adamant Chelsea star Cole Palmer has nothing to prove to his former club Manchester City in Saturdays FA Cup semi-final.

Palmer will be Chelseas driving force against City at Wembley after leaving the Premier League champions in a surprise £42 million ($52 million) switch to Chelsea in September.

City boss Pep Guardiola said on Friday that the 21-year-old had wanted to leave for two seasons in a bid to find guaranteed first-team action.

"He was asking for two seasons to leave," Guardiola said. "I said o, stay. What could we do?
"In pre-season I said stay because Riyad (Mahrez) has gone and he said o, I want to leave. After two seasons, what could I say?"

Palmer had to compete for playing time with Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku at City, convincing Guardiola to reluctantly accept the youngsters wishes.

The England forward has flourished at Chelsea, where his place in Pochettinos attack is guaranteed and his performances have put him in the contention for the PFA Player of the Year award.

Palmer is the joint top scorer in the Premier League after his four goals in Mondays 6-0 demolition of Everton moved him level with Citys Erling Haaland on 20 this season.

While Palmer might enjoy knocking out the FA Cup holders this weekend, Pochettino believes he has already made his point after scoring a stoppage-time penalty to rescue a 4-4 draw against City at Stamford Bridge in November.

"Its his first consistent season playing, we need to be careful because hes still young, hes growing," Pochettino told reporters on Friday.

"Hes already played twice against City in the Premier League. Hes very grateful for City, with Pep Guardiola. He always talks very highly of them.

"He understood perfectly that for different reasons he wanted to prove himself in another club. Hes not the type of person to wants to prove something against his former club."

Prior to joining Chelsea, Palmer had played only 19 league games spread over three seasons, and had not scored in the Premier League.

Now he is Chelseas talisman and one of the brightest emerging stars in Europe.

Palmer is likely to be selected in the England squad for Euro 2024, but Pochettino warned him not to be distracted by the increased attention and expectations surrounding him.    â€”AFP



LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Sylhet will play to become BPL champions: Ariful
BPL kicks off amid enthusiasm and protest over ticketing issue
Barishal start journey like champions in runs galore BPL opener
A Pivotal Year of Transformation in Bangladesh Cricket
Dhaka Capitals chose Perera as captain instead of Liton
Jishan keen to carry his NCL T20 form to BPL
Squads of all seven teams of BPL
We need to invest in cricket, not concerts or anything else: Tamim
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: district@dailyobserverbd.com, news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝
close