Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has expressed his support for new manager Xabi Alonso, believing he can aid in reviving the form of Cole Palmer following a challenging period for the young midfielder.
Palmer had a promising first season with Chelsea, quickly becoming a key player for the club. However, his performances have waned over the last two seasons, affected by injuries and inconsistency, which also led to his omission from Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad.
In an interview with TNT Sports, Mikel defended Palmer against recent criticisms, asserting that he is not simply a “one-season wonder.” He emphasized that Palmer possesses significant talent and abilities, but has lost some enthusiasm during the club’s struggles over the past two seasons.
He said to TNT Sports: “Listen, we all love Cole. I think Cole is fantastic, he’s a great player. I think a lot of people now are calling him ‘one season wonder’, but I think Cole is more than that.
“He’s got a lot of qualities. A lot of abilities, and I just think what has happened in the club for the last two seasons, you can see that he’s lost a bit of interest. I see that when he plays.
“I think now he’s got a manager that can put his arm around him and gets the best out of him. I think that’s what he needs. He’s our top player, our main man, and we should treat him that way.
“If we can get him to start playing well again, I think the team will start playing well, so let’s build the team around Cole.”