Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has lavished praise on Cole Palmer, describing his performance as "magnificent" after the England forward came off the bench to inspire a stunning Champions League comeback against Napoli. The 3-2 victory at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona secured Chelsea's place in the competition's last sixteen, bypassing the February play-off round entirely.
Palmer's Pivotal Impact from the Bench
With his team trailing 2-1 at half-time, Rosenior introduced Palmer, a decision that would completely transform the match. The substitute provided two exquisite assists for striker Joao Pedro, who scored a brace to turn the game on its head. This intervention came amid reports that Palmer has been unsettled in West London and favours a return to Manchester, making his match-winning contribution particularly timely.
Strategic Management Pays Dividends
Rosenior explained his tactical reasoning, stating there was no possibility of Palmer starting the match given his recent workload. "I knew Napoli had had a difficult time with injuries. I felt that later in the game we would be stronger and I felt Cole's performance was magnificent," the Chelsea head coach revealed. He emphasised the importance of managing the player carefully, adding, "We need to look after him. He's had so many games over a long period of time. Hopefully we can now see the best of him now that he's fully fit."
A Match of Dramatic Twists
The encounter began perfectly for the visitors when Enzo Fernandez converted an early penalty. However, Napoli, despite being severely hampered by injuries with ten players unavailable to manager Antonio Conte, fought back impressively. Goals from youngster Antonio Vergara – his first for the club – and Rasmus Hojlund left Chelsea's hopes hanging by a thread before Palmer and Pedro's decisive interventions.
Pedro's Rocket and Rosenior's Guidance
Joao Pedro's equaliser just past the hour mark was a spectacular strike, arguably his best since joining Chelsea. Rosenior disclosed he has held multiple conversations with the forward to extract this level of performance. "I think he's sick of my office, where I've said to him, if you play with intensity, with your quality, the quality comes out," Rosenior remarked. "The two goals are fantastic but the way he held the ball up for the team, the way he sprinted and started that press, the harder you work the better you are as a player."
Consequences for Both Sides
The victory represents Chelsea's fifth win in six matches and means they finish sixth in the league phase. They now await the last-16 draw, with potential opponents including Newcastle United and holders Paris Saint-Germain. For Napoli, however, the defeat means elimination from the Champions League. A frustrated Antonio Conte analysed the defeat, stating, "The difference in this game has been the way (Chelsea) capitalised on their actions. In the final third we could have made different choices. I'm sorry because we did a great game in so many different aspects." He also highlighted the significant injury crisis affecting his squad.
