Cole Palmer used strong language, stating “s*** happens,” following his contribution to Chelsea`s 3-1 victory over Liverpool.
The 22-year-old English international ended his drought of 18 games without a goal by successfully converting a penalty during stoppage time against the recently crowned league champions.
After Chelsea`s 3-1 triumph, Palmer was interviewed by Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison.
During the interview, the forward hit back at his critics and emphasized his mental strength in dealing with challenges.
Palmer stated: “We played very well as a team. They are champions for a reason, but I think we showed desire, good fight, and troubled them at times.”
“I felt normal [taking the penalty]. S*** happens, I hadn`t scored for three months, but that motivates me more to perform well not only for myself but for my team.”
“Social media these days is full of idiots, so I don`t pay any attention to it.”
“I`m happy to have scored today, but I need to keep improving and try to reach new levels.”
“If you get chances and don`t score… ultimately, you`re letting your team down.”
“I feel I`m mentally strong anyway, so whatever people say doesn`t bother me. I`ve experienced it my whole life.”
“I take pride in helping the team, and if I`m not doing that, I`m not happy.”
“Today, I felt like myself. I was confident, trying things, making first-time passes, playing forward, playing freely, and when you have someone like him [Moises Caicedo] beside you, it`s a dream.”
Following the conclusion of the interview, Sky Sports presenter Kelly Cates issued an apology for Palmer`s swearing on air.
Former Chelsea and Manchester City player Daniel Sturridge, working as a pundit for Sky Sports, supported Palmer after the match.
Sturridge commented: “I appreciate how much he cares. When he does interviews he’s open about how he feels.”
“You can see how much pride he takes in football. It’s not about what everyone else thinks it’s about what he thinks. When you set your standards so high and you don’t get there, it hurts. I’ve been there.”
“When you play for a big club, there will be critics, but what I liked is that he doesn`t care about it.”
“Some things on social media may slip through because people send quick messages, but it’s best to focus on being your best. He’s very proud of that.”
“His teammates feel the same, as they understand how hard he works. He`s an unbelievable player, and all top players globally have faced difficult periods.”
`Form is temporary and class is permanent`
Jamie Redknapp added his perspective: “We always realize that form is temporary and class is permanent. He is too good to be negatively impacted for a long time.”
“You could see it today; confidence was flowing from him. He played with real freedom and was clearly enjoying his game.”
Chelsea secured an early lead in the third minute through Enzo Fernandez. Their advantage was extended in the 56th minute by a Jarell Quansah own goal, although Liverpool`s Virgil van Dijk managed to pull one back later.
After Quansah fouled Caicedo in the box in stoppage time, Palmer stepped up to score from 12 yards, ending his goalless spell.
Cole Palmer spotted running away from Stamford Bridge as baffled Chelsea fans ask `where is he going`
