Cole Palmer has weighed in on Chelsea‘s title chances after they suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat by Fulham on Boxing Day.
The Blues took the lead through Palmer but were stunned by two late goals from the visitors – with Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz hitting late for Marco Silva‘s side.
Prior to their clash against Everton last weekend, the Blues were just two points behind league leaders Liverpool. However, they are now seven points off the top.
While many had suggested that Chelsea were in fact in the title race, Blues star Palmer has insisted that they are ‘not title contenders’ in the wake of their defeat.
He told Amazon Prime: ‘To lose at the end is difficult. In the first half we played well, controlled the game and had quite a few chances. Second half we lost a bit of control.
‘They are a good transition team and direct. We got caught up in their game and paid the price. We turned it into a game they are better than us at.
Cole Palmer has weighed in on Chelsea’s title chances after losing to Fulham on Boxing Day
Palmer scored his 12th goal of the league season to put the Blues ahead in the derby
However, a late capitulation saw the west London giants succumb to a third league defeat
‘It is fine, we have another game in a few days. Keep going. We knew we were not going to win every game we play.
‘Everyone said from the start we are not title contenders. The manager said it was an opportunity to learn, we will look back on it and rest and recover.
‘It is football and it happens. We lost control for 20 minutes and the scored two, so well done Fulham.’
Prior to the London derby, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca astonishingly claimed that not even the England superstar is safe from being dropped.
As strange as it sounds, given Palmer’s reliability since signing for £42.5million from Manchester City and his ability to become Chelsea’s match-winner in a flash, some supporters have been calling for Joao Felix to get more of a chance over their 22-year-old creator.
Asked if Palmer would always play, given he has started every Premier League game under him, Maresca said: ‘I take the decision game by game. Goals and assists and how he is helping us. Him and Nicolas (Jackson), they are not only scoring goals but helping with how we press and our intensity.’
While Palmer did play in the match, his England teammate Noni Madueke did not – with Blues boss Maresca making an example of the 22-year-old.
The Blues are now seven points behind Liverpool – who have a game in hand on Maresca’s side
Rodrigo Muniz steered his effort into the corner of the net to earn Fulham a huge win at Chelsea
Madueke was not injured as the winger missed out on making the squad here, and Maresca instead named a bench that included two goalkeepers and a pair of academy graduates.
He only used a single substitute, replacing Nicolas Jackson with Christopher Nkunku, as Fulham went on to win at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 45 years.
After axing him from the team for their Premier League win over Aston Villa earlier this month, Maresca told us: ‘He can do much more. The moment he starts to score or assist and is happy, he starts to drop.
‘The reason why he was not playing is because I do not like the way he trained.’
