"It's too much sometimes" - Chelsea star Cole Palmer opens up on Cristiano Ronaldo-like training he undergoes ahead of matches
Chelsea star Cole Palmer is drawing comparisons to one of football’s all-time greats Cristiano Ronaldo for his relentless dedication to training. Since his £42.5 million move from Manchester City in September 2023, Palmer has emerged as Chelsea’s talisman.
The Englishman has already contributed a staggering 32 goals and 20 assists in just 59 matches across all competitions. At 21, the attacking midfielder is not only a natural talent but also an emblem of hard work—a trait reminiscent of Ronaldo’s rise to greatness.
Like the Portuguese forward, whose training habits became the stuff of legend during his time at Manchester United, Palmer’s commitment to improvement often pushes him beyond regular expectations.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has found himself playing a role similar to that of Sir Alex Ferguson during Ronaldo’s early days. Ferguson famously had to bellow across Manchester United’s training grounds to get the Portuguese to stop practicing and save energy for matches.
Blues' manager Maresca, similarly, has to convince Palmer to step away from the field at Cobham. Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola recently asked the Englishman if he stays behind after training sessions to work on himself individually. Here's what Palmer said (via Mirror):
"Yeah, if Maresca lets me! It’s too much sometimes. [I would stay all day] if I could."
As former United midfielder Nicky Butt recalled in the book Viva Ronaldo, Ferguson would often yell at Ronaldo to stop practicing and conserve energy for upcoming matches.
Like Palmer, Ronaldo was obsessed with perfecting his craft. Butt, in 2021, described Ronaldo’s work ethic as "total dedication, total commitment, and total hard work", qualities now mirrored in Palmer’s approach.
Like Ronaldo, Cole Palmer arrived at Chelsea as a slender, skillful youngster
The parallels between the two extend beyond their training routines. Both players entered the Premier League as slender, skillful youngsters, needing to develop the physical strength required for England’s top tier.
Ronaldo transformed himself into a physical powerhouse through relentless effort, and Palmer is on a similar trajectory. Growing up, Palmer was often the smallest on the pitch, playing against older and stronger opponents—a challenge that honed his quick thinking and skill development.
While Reflecting on his early years of street football with his father and friends, Palmer said:
"I was smaller, so I had to think more."
Zola, who has been impressed by Palmer’s rapid rise at Chelsea, believes Palmer has the potential to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
"He needs to work a lot on his game because he’s still young. But if he gets a bit faster and stronger in one-on-ones, he could be in contention for the Ballon d’Or. The numbers and skills are there."
Palmer’s commitment to training is especially apparent during midweek sessions. His teammates are currently competing in the Europa Conference League. However, Palmer is not part of the squad traveling for European fixtures, allowing him to focus solely on refining his game.
It’s a luxury he uses to his advantage, staying behind at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground to work on his craft. The Chelsea manager’s insistence on sending Palmer home after training sessions reflects an understanding of how to manage extraordinary talent.
