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Cole Palmer discusses his toughest difficulty since joining Chelsea.
Chelsea forward Cole Palmer has expressed his surprise at how quickly he has made an impact at the club since his move from Manchester City. Palmer joined Chelsea in a £45 million deal on transfer deadline day, despite having limited senior appearances in his career up to that point.
The 21-year-old cited the opportunity for more consistent playing time as his motivation for the move. He mentioned that he had been around Manchester City’s first team for a few years but desired a greater opportunity to play.
At Chelsea, Palmer made his debut as a substitute in a match against Nottingham Forest and had subsequent substantial appearances as a substitute. He was then handed a start in a west London derby against Fulham, which Chelsea won for their second Premier League victory of the season.
Palmer’s performance in that game earned him a starting spot in the following match against Burnley, during which he contributed with a goal and an assist.
This marked Chelsea’s first successive league victories in seven months. The upcoming match against Arsenal after the international break will be a significant test for Palmer and an indicator of the manager’s faith in him if he starts again.
“It has surprised me a bit but I know my own ability,” Palmer said of his first six weeks as a Chelsea player while on England under-21 duty. “I knew that if I hit the ground running, I’d have a chance and obviously make an impact. That’s why I went [to Chelsea]. I thought I could break in.
“It’s been hectic but that’s good, moving down [to London from Manchester] was a big change. I was in a hotel for a couple of weeks and then I got my own place. It is new and difficult…I don’t know how to do most things on my own so I’m learning.”
Palmer had previously spoken about the significance of the move from a personal perspective.
“When I left the [City] training ground [for the last time] I knew I was going to London the next day. It all just hit me, sat in the car and going to drive out,” he said last month.
“I was just thinking, ‘You’ve been here 15 years’. I don’t know any different. I’ve never been on loan. I’ve never moved out of Manchester. The only time I’ve ever been outside of Manchester is on holiday or away games.”