Enzo Maresca believes even being the best player in the Premier League would not change the personality that has made Cole Palmer so successful at Chelsea.
Palmer made Premier League history against Brighton & Hove Albion by becoming the first player in the history of the competition to score four goals in the first half of a game, earning Chelsea a 4-2 win that moves them to within a point of Arsenal and Manchester City at the top of the table.
Six goals and four assists in his first six appearances of this season are an ominous sign for anyone hoping Palmer might dip from the spectacular standards he set in a breakthrough 2023-24 campaign, and Maresca is confident that the 22-year-old will not allow any praise or accolades change the qualities that have powered his sharp rise to stardom.
“I said to Cole that he scored four goals, but he could have scored two or three more,” said Maresca after the match. “It’s good that he continues to be hungry, ambitious.
“I know Cole from many years ago, I had him for one entire season with the under-23s at Manchester City. The best thing he has is that in the way he is today as a boy, he was three or four years ago. So goals, assists, best player of the Premier League — this doesn’t change who he is.
“He is a simple guy, a humble guy, and this for me is the most important thing.”
Maresca added: “He is a top player. Today in football, young players change very quickly. They score one goal and think they are already (a star). Cole scored many goals, many assists, he’s a top player but he never changes, and that is the most important thing.
“Already in his life many good things happened in his life as a professional to give him the chance to change, but he didn’t change. That means he is probably always going to be the way he is.”
Chelsea are next in action on Thursday at home to Gent in the Conference League before returning to Premier League action on October 6 with a home match against Nottingham Forest.
(Top image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
