Frank Christian
Cole Palmer undoubtedly shone as Chelsea’s standout player last season, racking up 15 goals and 8 assists in the Premier League.
Yet, his performance dwindled during the latter part of the season compared to the first half.
Ex-Chelsea player Mario Melchiot suggests a reason for Palmer’s decline in performance.
The Frenchman posits that Palmer is shouldering too much responsibility and has called on his fellow players to step up, lightening the load on him.
Specifically, Melchiot is eager to see greater contributions from Chelsea’s Portuguese talent, Pedro Neto.
Neto netted an impressive opening goal during Chelsea’s inaugural Club World Cup match, and Melchiot urges him to keep up his scoring to assist Palmer in his efforts.
Mario Melchiot’s thoughts on Pedro Neto
In an interview on ESPN following Chelsea’s clash with LAFC, Melchiot remarked: “The style of play and creativity revolve significantly around him. When all attention is on a single player, any dip in their form can create complications, which is something Chelsea faced last season.”
“This year, I’ve been advocating for the wingers to also contribute goals. Neto managed to do that today, and it’s crucial to see more of this from him. The more goals from wingers and the striker will significantly ease the creative burden on Palmer.”
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