Cole Palmer needs more quality around him at Chelsea. Phil Foden continues to shine at Manchester City.
A look at two of England's creative sparks. Report from Wembley
Two of the brightest young players in world football, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, both contenders for Footballer of the Year, graced the FA Cup semi-final here at Wembley on Saturday. Chelsea’s Palmer lost 1-0 to Manchester City but added to his reputation. Foden continues to go from strength to strength, and from semi-final to final.
This was a game of misses by Nicolas Jackson, a hand-ball offence by Jack Grealish missed by referee Michael Oliver, and one hit from Bernardo Silva late on that decided the game, and took City to the final on May 25. But this was also a game of two tyros, Palmer and Foden, and their performances will be closely analysed by England’s manager, Gareth Southgate, as he makes his plans for the Euros. Jude Bellingham is Southgate’s starting No 10 but Foden and Palmer demonstrated their ability to play there, Foden slightly deeper here. Both can play wide.
City’s No 47 had the last laugh, but the eye was first drawn to Chelsea’s No 20, a delight to those Chelsea fans flooding up Olympic Way, chanting “Palmer again, Palmer again”, a mantra reflecting his relentless goalscoring and influence game after game. He did not define this match, but his quality is undoubted.
The 21-year-old changed next to Raheem Sterling, a senior pro who has gone out of his way to ensure the £42.5m newcomer from City settled in. Palmer needed to move to gain regular starts, and his return this season has vindicated his decision. As City march on, chasing a Double, Pep Guardiola’s judgement can hardly be questioned.
Two yards from where Palmer and Sterling sat, the word “Together” was emblazoned in Chelsea blue across the floor, rather needed after the nonsense of Monday night when Jackson tried to take the ball off him at a penalty. It was ridiculous and unprofessional from Jackson. It did not seem to perturb Palmer, who converted comfortably.
Five days later, Palmer did not look fully fit here five days later, had strapping on his left quad, went into a strong early challenge on John Stones and resumed play slightly stiffly. Even so, Palmer’s influence was obvious. He began in the No 10 role, occasionally slightly right of centre, linking with Noni Madueke.
City were slightly leggy, before showing their strong mindset late on, but still tracked Palmer diligently, first Manuel Akanji, then Stones, then Rodri, responsibility shared by Guardiola’s players. Palmer was in elusive mood, though, a reminder why he should go to the Euros.
His movement, dropping off, ghosting wide, kept taking him into space, away from his markers. Palmer’s deftness in receiving the ball, often letting it come across him, turning and passing, gave Chelsea an extra dimension. He released Jackson through the middle, then turned away from Foden and passed wide to Madueke. Head up, constantly scanning, Palmer spotted Stefan Ortega off his line but even his technique could not keep his 40-yard effort on target. Full marks for vision and confidence, though.
Chelsea fans talk of the joyous, technical impact of Eden Hazard, the grace of Gianfranco Zola, who was here pitch-side before kick-off, accommodating countless selfie requests, and the prolific prowess of Frank Lampard, who was here for the BBC. Some put Palmer in that bracket of club legends. Already. It’s far too soon, of course. He needs to deliver season after season, as well as game after game, but he has the talent to follow in their illustrious footsteps one day. He needs more quality around him, and his frustration with his team-mates not being on the same wavelength.
This was Palmer’s 39th game for Chelsea and he already has 23 goals and 13 assists. With seven Premier League games to go, Palmer is within three goals of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s 23 as Chelsea’s second most prolific player in a Premier League season. Didier Drogba is over the horizon with his 29 from the 2009/2010 season.
In the Sky Blue of City, Foden was quietly impressive, failing to add to his 21 goals and 10 assists, but always involved. If Palmer showed first, Foden inevitably imposed his many gifts on the semi-final, always available for the ball whatever the pressure. Foden was often deeper than Palmer, occasionally No 10 behind Julian Alvarez but often further back with Kevin De Bruyne. Foden is such a team player, such a disciple of Guardiola’s teachings, and he even tracked back alongside Nathan Ake to close down Madueke.
Foden’s passing, at times, was breath-taking, including one magnificent switch to Alvarez. He could have scored, running on to De Bruyne’s pass down the inside-right channel, taking a touch with his left as he began to round Djordje Petrovic. Foden, 23, could have shot with his right but took another touch with his left, the angle narrowed, and when he finally used his right, the moment was lost.
Back came Palmer, just failing to reach Jackson’s cross, dinking the ball left to Marc Cucurella, lofted a lovely pass down the right to Madueke, then glided past Rodri but his low shot was saved. Up in the Club Wembley ring, a “Cold Palmer” flag fluttered in the breeze.
Foden’s work-rate was supreme, and he contributed more out of possession than Palmer. Foden’s work-rate was immense, one moment pressing Palmer, the next chopping the ball around Gallagher. As the half progressed past the half-hour mark, Foden stabbed ball through to De Bruyne, who surprisingly turned back. Foden then accelerated from the centre to the left, brought down by Moises Caicedo. Foden took the free-kick, overhitting it.
As the second half began, Palmer lifted a cross to the far-post where Jackson headed down and Stefan Ortega punched the danger away. Palmer looked frustrated. Back down the other end, Foden took a square ball from Grealish, and shot low at Petrovic. Palmer’s passing repertoire continued to be on display, turning away from Foden, sending the ball down the left to Jackson.
Presented with a free-kick opportunity, Chelsea’s No 20 sent the ball into City’s three-man leaping wall, and Grealish left arm came down and brushed the ball. Michael Oliver waved play on, Palmer led the appeals committee with vigour, volume and much justification. VAR saw nothing wrong and the game went on. Oliver frustrated Chelsea again after 62 minutes. Palmer was the catalyst, sending Jackson through again. The forward tussled with Kyle Walker, and eventually went down. Oliver dismissed that claim, rightly.
Palmer went past Akanji, then threaded a pass through traffic to Madueke, who failed to control the ball. Palmer gave a little jump of frustration. His mood darkened further when Silva pounced, following good work by Doku and De Bruyne. Palmer has done so much for Chelsea but their season has fizzled out. Foden, meanwhile, reaches another final.
I’ve only just learnt that HW was made redundant from the Times. He was the reason I began subscribing to that paper. Gutted. He is a “football man” and will be missed by its readers.
A lot in the discourse these days about Man City letting Palmer go being a mistake but probably a good move for all involved - I haven’t really seen the footballing case that Palmer could have coexisted with the other personnel at City… his role at Chelsea is perfect.