Cole Palmer reveals tactic used by Man Utd that left him shocked in telling analysis

Throughout the 2023/24 season, Palmer netted 22 goals and provided 11 assists in England’s top division.

His outstanding performances earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year award, surpassing rivals like Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Michael Olise, Joao Pedro, and Bukayo Saka.

One of his standout moments came at Stamford Bridge, where he scored twice in the 100th and 101st minutes, sealing Chelsea’s comeback victory over Manchester United.

In an interview with Premier League show Uncut, Palmer recounted those decisive moments from the match.

“This is my favourite goal [against United],” he said. “I just couldn’t believe how much time and space I had. When I got the ball, I took a touch and then I took another one and I thought ‘where is everyone?’

“Then there was just loads of players there so I thought ‘if I shoot on target, hard, I’ve got a chance’. When I got it, they were all pointing saying ‘mark him’ and none of them came out.”

Palmer was then asked if he was surprised by the amount of time and space he was given at such a key moment in the game.

“Yeah,” he said. “I was thinking, ‘what?’ I don’t even know why I was there, I just went there. It was a good one.”

The England playmaker went on to describe his celebrations. “You don’t even know what to do,” Palmer added.

“Just running and then I saw all of the bench coming and I thought they were going to take me out. I went to run to the manager first but then I saw Axel and Benoit and I thought, na, U-turn. So I ran the other way.

“Just emotion wasn’t it? We were losing it was the 96th minute and they were just passing it around us and then we scored two.”