Cole Palmer’s build-up to Newcastle involved him celebrating his 23rd birthday by training with his Chelsea team-mates and then popping to his local astroturf for a kickabout with pals before heading home to watch that night’s Champions League action.
Europe’s elite competition is exactly where the Blues want to be themselves and whatever downtime was enjoyed by Palmer on Tuesday, the England international insists he means business today at St James’ Park.
Some within Chelsea see this as their biggest match of the season. Whoever manages to win would take a gigantic step towards securing Champions League football.
Palmer insists he and his team-mates cannot show any signs of fear as they take on Newcastle, lest they want to be ‘eaten alive’ by the army of Geordies awaiting them.
‘On my birthday I went training, went to the astro with my mates for a kickabout, and then went home and watched the Champions League,’ said Palmer, whose birthday fell on Tuesday when Inter Milan defeated Barcelona 4-3 to win 7-6 on aggregate. ‘It was good.
‘Newcastle is a big game. We know what the stadium is like and we know they are in a Champions League spot as well. We know it will be a tough game but we’re going there to win. Hopefully we can do that.
Cole Palmer says Chelsea risk being ‘eaten alive’ by Newcastle if they’re not ‘brave’
‘We need to go there and be brave. If you go there and you’re not brave, or you’re scared, they can eat you alive. We need to be on it.’
Palmer finally ended his scoring drought in Chelsea’s last Premier League win over Liverpool, having previously gone 18 games without a goal.
He, and others such as Nicolas Jackson, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, were able to be rested in Europe in midweek as the Blues reached the Conference League final by beating Djurgarden 1-0, securing a 5-1 aggregate victory overall.
Palmer was reminded by one journalist in the mixed zone that compared to 16-year-old Reggie Walsh, who made history in starting for Chelsea in Thursday’s second leg, he is now practically an ‘old man’ at 23.
Palmer replied jokingly: ‘F***ing hell, what are you then compared to Reggie?
‘Obviously Reggie is young but he’s trained with us a few times. He’s a very good player. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.’
Palmer added he thinks his leadership skills are improving as he added: ‘I’m still young myself so I have to keep growing and growing.’
