Calum McFarlane, the interim head coach of Chelsea, has become the latest manager to defend Cole Palmer's form, dismissing suggestions that the English playmaker is struggling as a 'fake narrative'. Before McFarlane, both Liam Rosenior and Enzo Maresca had also sought to protect the 23-year-old amid accusations that his performances are declining, with uncertainty surrounding whether Thomas Tuchel will select him for the upcoming World Cup.
McFarlane's Defence of Palmer
McFarlane believes Palmer would be a valuable asset for England and emphasised that he cannot control whether his teammates convert the chances he creates. The 38-year-old coach also highlighted that Palmer has been dealing with the first significant injury of his career—a persistent groin issue that had no clear recovery timeline. According to Palmer himself, the injury left him unable to sprint or shoot when he forced himself to return to action under Maresca.
In the Premier League this season, Palmer has scored nine goals—five from penalties—provided one assist, and created 22 chances. While his numbers are notably lower than in the previous two seasons, his playing time has also been restricted due to the injury.
Ahead of Chelsea's crucial match against Nottingham Forest, which could impact their European qualification hopes, McFarlane stated: 'It's been a difficult period for Cole. He's had his first injury that he's pretty much ever had in his career and he's had to learn how to deal with that. I don't agree with the narrative that he isn't playing well. There are obviously games where he can impact more but there have also been a lot of occasions where he's created a lot of good chances for players. He can't control whether that's finished.'
He added: 'It's just a case of building that consistency. I'm really pleased with Cole. He shows us his talent every single day, his energy and his enthusiasm to play. He's still a top, top player, one of the best in the world. I have no concerns over Cole being ready to impact games from now to the end of the season, and hopefully in the World Cup, in big moments for England.'
Pressure and Expectations
Palmer faces extra pressure due to the high expectations set after his first two sensational seasons as Chelsea's star player. McFarlane, who previously worked in Manchester City's academy, did not directly coach Palmer but watched him excel for the Under-21s. 'We have all watched Cole Palmer enough to see the freedom he plays the game with,' McFarlane said. 'He sees things that other people don't see, so it was very similar. He is just doing it at a higher level against a higher level of opposition, but very much the same type of player.'
Team News and Contract Question
In positive news for Chelsea, Reece James and Levi Colwill could return to the squad against Forest after recovering from hamstring and ACL injuries respectively. For Colwill, it would mark his first matchday inclusion this season. When asked by a journalist whether he had received a new contract with performance-related bonuses—common among players—McFarlane declined to answer.
