Enzo Maresca: “I’m sure Cole Plamer can be world class”
Image credit: WhoScored.com
Cole Palmer’s story is one of raw potential, suppressed brilliance, and an eventual escape to stardom.
At Manchester City, Palmer was a diamond in the rough—a player brimming with talent but trapped in a system where individual flair often takes a backseat to the collective.
Under Pep Guardiola, every move is orchestrated, every pass deliberate, leaving little room for a young player to experiment and thrive.
It’s not that Palmer lacked the ability; instead, he was cast in a role that never allowed his natural creativity to flourish. Like a bird in a cage, he was a part of Guardiola’s system but never its centerpiece.
City fans occasionally caught glimpses of his brilliance, but those moments were fleeting, lost in the shadow of stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.
Fast forward to his transfer to Chelsea, and Palmer’s career trajectory has skyrocketed. The move to Stamford Bridge wasn’t just a change of scenery—it was an unshackling. Under Mauricio Pochettino, Palmer has been given something he never had at City: freedom.
This freedom has turned him into one of the Premier League’s most exciting players. With 33 goals and 18 assists this season, Palmer has become a revelation. His flair, creativity, and ability to take risks are now assets, not liabilities.
He’s no longer a cog in the machine; he’s the driving force of Chelsea’s attack, the player the team looks to when they need a moment of magic.
City fans now look on with envy, some lamenting, “If we had kept Cole Palmer, we’d be better.” But would they? Darren Bent, among others, argues that Pep’s system wouldn’t have allowed Palmer to become the player he is today:
I don’t think you’d have seen the same Cole Palmer. I think Pep wouldn’t allow him to flourish like he is at Chelsea.
Guardiola’s structured, possession-heavy philosophy might have stifled the very qualities that make Palmer special.
Palmer’s story is a reminder that even the most talented players need the right environment to thrive. It’s not just about skill; it’s about trust, freedom, and the chance to fail and learn.
At Chelsea, Palmer has found all three, and in doing so, he has become a player City could never have molded.
As Manchester City struggles to find consistency this season, they might wonder what could have been. But for Cole Palmer, the answer is clear: sometimes, to shine, you have to leave the shadows behind.