Online Reporter
COLE PALMER is leading Chelsea by example, according to the club’s greatest ever captain.
John Terry has been blown away by Palmer’s performances — even though the forward has not scored in two months.
Terry, 44, works as a coach at his beloved Blues’ academy and witnessed first hand how deceptively strong wispish-looking Palmer is with the way he outstripped his team-mates in a recent bleep test at the training ground.
“He’s probably leading the way he likes to lead. A lot of players do that. From afar people look at captains and leadership as if you’ve got to be that big vocal guy, screaming, shouting, barking orders.
“I think it’s very different. A lot of players now do it in the way they’re playing. He certainly falls under that category.
“He’s been incredible for us. He’s taken a lot of the heat in terms of our dip, but also in terms of our first part of the season.
“It was probably all him, with his goals, with his contribution, with the work rate, with everything Chelsea were doing well. It revolved around him.
“Teams have obviously identified that he’s the big threat and there needs to be a real focus. So that’s come into play. Chelsea have had a dip also.”
Palmer was threatening to take the Premier League Golden Boot award at his height this season after scoring 14 goals but has fallen away in recent weeks — like the whole Chelsea team who were once considered title contenders.
He missed his first penalty in 15 for club and country in the 1-0 win over struggling Leicester earlier this month but it was then revealed he had insisted on playing despite suffering with stomach problems.
Terry said: “He’s personally not in his best form, but in terms of the quality that he brings to us, he’s just a fantastic player to have. Do I think he’ll come back to his best? Of course he will. He’s an incredible talent and he’ll continue to show those signs as well.” (www.thesun.co.uk)
