Cole Palmer ready to ‘prove a point’ for Chelsea after injury-hit season

Cole Palmer says he is fully fit, mentally refreshed and determined to make a stronger impression for Chelsea in the 2026-27 Premier League season after injuries disrupted his progress last term.

The England international scored 10 goals and provided one assist in 26 league appearances last season, but recurring fitness problems repeatedly interrupted his momentum. Palmer, now 24, believes those setbacks affected not only his body but also his confidence and decision-making on the pitch.

“Last season was frustrating because injuries kept interrupting my rhythm. When you go out injured, doubts start to creep in. You second-guess every movement; you hesitate because you remember how it felt when it hurt. That kind of mental block can be harder to overcome than the injury itself.

“But I’ve moved past that now. I’m fully fit, and my head is clear. I know what I can do on the pitch, and I’m determined to show it this season. I want to prove a point at Chelsea,” Palmer said in an interview shared by JioStar.

The forward has also welcomed the arrival of new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, saying the former Bayer Leverkusen boss has encouraged him to play with freedom rather than limit his attacking instincts.

Palmer believes Alonso’s instructions will allow him to use his movement more effectively in the final third, where he can look for space and create opportunities for himself and his team-mates.

“Before the season started, Xabi Alonso told me to just be free on the pitch. He knows what I’m capable of when I’m confident. He wants me to find spaces, move into dangerous areas, and make things happen. That kind of trust from a manager gives you a lot of belief. I feel like I can express myself without fear. I know where I can hurt the opposition, and he wants me to go out and do that. That’s what he told me.”

Palmer will also be looking to build an attacking partnership with Morgan Rogers after the latter’s arrival at Chelsea. The pair had spoken before Rogers completed the move, and Palmer believes their different styles could provide the club with a useful balance.

“I spoke to Morgan Rogers before he arrived at Chelsea and told him he’ll make a big difference here. We’re bringing in other players too, so the squad is looking strong. I genuinely believe we can achieve something special together. Morgan and I are different kinds of players, he brings more physicality and power, while I’m more technical and creative. That balance should work well for us on the pitch. I think we can complement each other and help the team move forward.”

Rogers’ trademark cold celebration was seen after Chelsea’s match against Fulham, with Palmer hinting that the two players could perform it together in the near future.

“We haven’t really talked about the cold celebration after scoring. I knew Morgan would do it anyway because it’s his style, but we’ve never actually discussed whether we’ll do it together or not. It happened in the Fulham game, and we’re going to do it again together soon. I guess we’ll figure it out when the moment comes.”

With his fitness no longer the main concern, Palmer’s attention is now on turning his renewed confidence into consistent performances as Chelsea begin their 2026-27 Premier League campaign.