With the upcoming clash between Manchester City and , all eyes will be on Cole Palmer. The English midfielder, who started his career with the Cityzens, has been in exceptional form this season with the Blues, scoring ten goals and providing six assists. His unwavering enthusiasm seems driven by a desire to showcase the immense potential that may have gone unnoticed.
Looking back to 2023, Manchester City decided to part ways with Palmer after his three-year stint with the team. During that time, he had limited opportunities, appearing in only 41 matches and scoring six goals. But the narrative has changed significantly, and the 21-year-old has turned a new leaf.
Before this crucial match, Palmer participated in a candid pre-match interview. When asked if he was excited about the chance to prove himself to Pep Guardiola, the Englishman replied, “Yes, I try to do that every game, so we’ll see…” Leaving Manchester City was never something he had wanted as a Wythenshawe-born player.
While speaking on Sky Sports, he openly expressed his reluctance to permanently leave his childhood club. Initially, he had intended to go on a one-year loan before making a triumphant return. However, this plan did not materialize, and he ended up taking an alternative path with Chelsea. Now, the midfielder seems determined to seek revenge against the Spanish manager.
This determination was evident in the previous Manchester City vs Chelsea encounter. It was Palmer who scored a dramatic equalizer with an injury-time penalty at the 95th-minute mark, denying Pep Guardiola’s team a victory and resulting in an exhilarating 4-4 draw.
It will be interesting to see what Palmer brings to the table in Saturday’s clash. Additionally, considering Mauricio Pochettino’s recent praise for him and comparisons to Lionel Messi, Palmer’s confidence is likely soaring.
A few weeks ago, Mauricio Pochettino publicly expressed his preference for Palmer on the pitch. The Argentine acknowledged that Palmer is not currently performing at his maximum potential due to his youthfulness but sees great promise in the rising star.
Pochettino also addressed unrealistic expectations, stating that Palmer cannot be expected to score in every game. He jokingly suggested that if Palmer did, he should be called Leo [Messi] instead of Cole Palmer. It remains to be seen whether Palmer will succeed in making Pep Guardiola regret selling him.
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According to the Source essentiallysports.com