Call Palmer (23, Chelsea) has been compared to 'God of Football' Lionel Messi (38, Inter Miami). He received praise.
Chelsea topped Real Betis 4-1 in the final of the 2024-2025 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Europa Conference League (UECL) held in Wroclaw, Poland, on the 29th (Korean time).
On this day, Palmer started as an attacking midfielder and played for 87 minutes. In the 20th and 25th minutes of the second half, trailing 0-1, he assisted with precise crosses for consecutive goals by Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson, leading the team's comeback.
Palmer, who recorded two assists, was awarded the Player Of The Match (POTM) award.
With this, Chelsea became the first club to secure all five major tournaments organized by UEFA (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, Cup Winners' Cup, Super Cup).
Former England national team player Joe Cole appeared on TNT Sports and praised Palmer. He noted, "Palmer played like a genius. Watching him play is a privilege for football fans," adding, "Not just Chelsea fans, but all England fans should enjoy him."
He continued, "If Messi had performed like this on such a stage, the whole world would have been buzzing," claiming, "Chelsea and England should build the team around Palmer."
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer also said through BBC Radio 5 Live, "In the first half, the team's balance was disrupted, but after Reece James, Levi Colwill, and Jadon Sancho were brought in, the game's dynamics changed."
He evaluated, "Palmer dominated the second half and led the team. He showed very mature play."
According to the BBC, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said, "Winning is essential to creating a winning culture at Chelsea," adding, "This trophy will make us stronger." Chelsea will participate in the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States this summer. Coach Maresca stated, "Now we have a 10-day rest. During that time, we will recover our energy. The goal is to prepare well for each game."
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