Cole Palmer`s on-field performance in Wednesday`s UEFA Conference League final was certainly attention-grabbing, but the Chelsea player continued to command the spotlight during his post-match interviews following the Blues` victory.
Chelsea successfully came back from a 1-0 deficit against Real Betis at halftime in Wednesday`s game played at Wroclaw Stadium in Poland. They went on to win the match 4-1, making history as the first team to win the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and the Conference League. Palmer played a vital role in the comeback, contributing two assists in the second half and earning Player of the Match honors for his efforts.
However, when it was time for on-pitch post-match interviews, Palmer found an unconventional place for his individual accolade. To keep a hand free for holding the microphone, he opted to place the Player of the Match award inside his shorts instead of holding it in his spare left hand. When CBS Sports` Anita Jones questioned him about this choice, his response was simple and direct.
`I got no pockets, so I put it there,` Palmer said.
Palmer maintained the lighthearted atmosphere later during the post-match press conference, even turning the tables and posing a question to the officials present.
`Can I ask a question? Who gives the player of the tournament award for the competition?` he asked. Upon learning that the decision rests with the UEFA Technical Observer Panel, he quickly shared the important reason behind his inquiry.
`Okay, could someone please tell him that Tosin wants it?` Palmer quipped, pointing at his teammate Tosin Adarabioyo, who reacted with laughter. `Thank you.`
These humorous moments capped off a significant contribution from the 23-year-old Palmer on the field. He was a key factor in Chelsea`s second-half turnaround, attributing the team`s improved performance after the break to a few specific instructions from manager Enzo Maresca at halftime.
`He didn`t really say much, to be fair. He just said we`re losing too many second balls,` Palmer explained. `We need to start playing like we`re in a final and I think we woke up and we showed up second half… In the second half, I just tried to find spaces where I could be more dangerous and I felt we were playing too safe at times so when I got a ball for the first assist, I thought, “I`m not going back again.”
While this was his first major final for Chelsea, the 23-year-old Palmer is building a reputation for delivering strong performances on big occasions. He previously scored in the Community Shield and the UEFA Super Cup for Manchester City and netted England`s only goal in their 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euros final last year, living up to his billing as one of football`s top rising stars.
`I love finals,` Palmer stated. `All the finals I`ve played in, I feel like I`ve contributed, so I just like the occasion.`
Palmer also recognized that this victory represented a formative moment for the current Chelsea squad, which was the youngest team in the Premier League this season with an average age just over 24. He described the Conference League triumph as a significant first accomplishment for the Blues, which serves as a stepping stone towards competing in the Champions League next season, secured by their fourth-place Premier League finish this campaign.
`This competition`s a good step for us,` Palmer commented. `We`re playing in this because last season, we deserved to play in this. Like the manager said, now we`re in the Champions League… I think we`ve got a lot of potential. We`ve got a great squad, great manager and obviously we`re a great team, but we`re showing, like on Sunday, we can win at tough places, we can come from behind in finals. I think we`re going in the right direction.`
As for how he planned to celebrate?
`No comment,` he said with a smirk.
Benedict Kingsley 
Adrian Whitmore