- Tim Sherwood conducted an awkward interview with Cole Palmer on Monday
- He left the midfielder stunned after comments about his Chelsea team-mates
- England squad coming… who is the wild card pick? It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Tim Sherwood conducted an awkward interview with Cole Palmer that left the Chelsea star looking stunned after comments about his team-mates following their 3-2 win over Newcastle.
The Blues secured their first league win since the middle of February with a narrow victory over the Magpies thanks to goals from Nicolas Jackson, Palmer himself and Mykhailo Mudryk.
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak had cancelled out Jackson’s opener before Jacob Murphy pulled one back later on – but Mauricio Pochettino’s side held out.
Goalscorer Palmer was interviewed pitchside after the game by former Tottenham boss Sherwood, but the line of questioning he went for baffled fans and appeared to leave Palmer squirming.
After continuing his superb form this season with a goal and assist against Eddie Howe’s men, Sherwood raised eyebrows with comments about Palmer’s team-mates.
‘All you need are some players to play with,’ Sherwood said, followed by an awkward silence as Palmer looked back at him with a blank expression.
Sherwood, who has become a regular face on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday after coaching spells with Spurs and Aston Villa, then chimed in: ‘I know you can’t say that, but I’m saying it. I just think you need more quality around you.
‘For me, [Pochettino] needs to build the team around you – with the quality you have, but that will come with a few transfer windows hopefully once he gets the right players in.’
Palmer eventually replied to Sherwood to insist ‘there is a lot of quality there’ despite his comments, adding: ‘Not just me, we’ve got lots of other players. Hopefully, the team can gel a bit more than everyone has seen.’
Fans were far from pleased with Sherwood’s comments, with one saying it was a ‘disgusting thing to say’.
‘That’s a disgusting thing to say live on TV to a young player and after a win, I think Palmer handled that very well,’ the user said.
‘Put the poor boy on the spot. He handled it so well. Weldone Palmer,’ read another tweet.
One read: ‘This is ridiculous from Sherwood.
Another added to the chorus of those praising the player for his reaction, writing: ‘Really well handled by Palmer.’
Palmer now has 13 goals and 10 assists for Chelsea this season to give himself a huge chance of making Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024 this summer.
Speaking further after the game, Palmer – who dazzled in front of the Three Lions boss at Stamford Bridge – said he wouldn’t have believed he had a shot of making the squad last summer before joining from Man City for £42.5million.
‘If you had told me at the start of the season I had a chance to go to the Euros I wouldn’t have believed it,’ Palmer said. ‘I will take each game as it comes and see what happens in the summer.
‘We showed passion, courage winning the second ball and not getting bullied. As a young team we’re going to make mistakes.’
Pochettino added of Palmer: ‘He arrived the last day of the transfer window and it was so easy for him to adapt to the team and the demands from us, the coaching staff. He is showing his quality and, of course, it is good to have him in the squad. He is getting more mature every day.’
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
