Chelsea's Cole Palmer has been receiving high praise, with comparisons to football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The young star's impressive debut season has set the bar high, but former Chelsea defender William Gallas believes Palmer has the potential to reach those iconic heights.
Palmer made a significant impact last season, scoring 25 goals in 45 games and earning a spot on the European championship stage with England. His performance didn’t stop there; he's continued to dazzle this season, notching a goal and three assists in recent matches.
His standout contributions in Chelsea’s 6-2 victory over Wolves and his assist against Crystal Palace have left fans and pundits alike buzzing about his future.
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The legendary challenge for Cole Palmer
William Gallas, speaking to Prime Casino, has laid out the challenge for Palmer.
“Cole Palmer needs to stay at his level. Produce a season like that again. And again. And again. Season after season, that’s what the very best players - the legends - do. Messi and Ronaldo, these guys were the best for almost 15-20 years. It’s remarkable, and that is the standard if you want to be considered the best,” Gallas said.
The road to legendary status is tough and requires more than just talent. Gallas emphasized the need for relentless consistency and mental fortitude. "What Palmer did last season with Chelsea was just incredible,” he added.
“The most difficult challenge for players is to stay in that level. To do it takes unbelievable commitment, huge sacrifices. You must live your life like a monk. You must be happy knowing that you’re going to have three weeks in the year to switch off, and then you have to work even harder than the year before. It’s not easy to do that.”
Palmer’s future at Chelsea looks bright, and with such high expectations, his journey is just beginning. Fans will be eager to see if he can sustain his form and continue to impress as Chelsea faces West Ham this Saturday.