Disasi: I knew Cole Palmer will do this

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Chelsea defender Axel Disasi has lavished praise on teammate Cole Palmer following his standout performance against Tottenham, where the midfielder coolly converted two penalties, including a stylish Panenka.

Disasi has claimed he knew Cole Palmer would go for the Panenka for his second penalty.

“To be honest, I knew he would do this Panenka,” Disasi revealed. “I was on the bench with Kiernan (Dewsbury-Hall), and I told him he would do this. I remember the year before he did the same. I can’t remember which game.”

Palmer’s confidence under pressure has impressed his teammates, with Disasi highlighting the midfielder’s composed approach. “For a year-and-a-half, you all know the quality of Cole. At this moment, he’s a very chilled guy, and for the fans, it’s a good feeling to see a player perform like this with a lot of quality and skills. We’re all happy with his performances, and we hope he’ll continue here.”

The French defender also shared advice for Chelsea’s young stars, encouraging them to embrace the challenge of performing at the highest level. “They have to be themselves, the youngsters,” Disasi said. “They have to enjoy the moment and don’t feel the pressure. We’ll be there to help if they ask for advice.”

Reflecting on the difficulties of high-stakes games, Disasi acknowledged the challenges but expressed confidence in the team’s ability.

He said: “I know it’s not maybe the best games to start, with the flying and temperature, but we have the quality.”

Chelsea fans will hope Palmer and the club’s rising talents continue to shine as they navigate a busy and competitive season.