Xabi Alonso: "Palmer will be one of the key players"

New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso believes Cole Palmer is poised to become a pivotal figure for the London club. Alonso stated that if the team can establish a solid foundation, Palmer will be "one of the key players."

Alonso highlighted Palmer's exceptional talent, noting his ability to make the right decisions at crucial moments. He also praised the English international's positive attitude and strong mentality upon joining the team. "From the first training session, you can see he has a special talent. It's not easy to find footballers like that," Alonso said.

The Spanish coach emphasized Palmer's versatility, a quality he deems essential for modern football. "He has many qualities to adapt to modern football. He is a player who offers great versatility thanks to his positioning," Alonso added.

Beyond individual performances, Alonso stressed the importance of building a strong collective identity for Chelsea. "We need to have hunger, passion for the games, and the desire to improve. We need to be very decisive in the details," he commented. While avoiding specific targets, Alonso expressed ambition for the club to compete in European competitions, stating, "We want to be in European competitions. Time will tell how far we go, but we are ambitious and want to transmit that energy."