At Stamford Bridge on Saturday, the Chelsea supporters were treated to a performance of the very highest quality. It was the type of individual showing which comes along rarely, or at least statistically, never before.

Palmer became the first person ever to score four times in the first half of a Premier League match, getting all of the Blues’ goals as we defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 to make it three league wins in a row.

According to Maresca, the 22-year-old’s talent is clear, and no-one should be in any doubt anymore about just how much talent our No20 possesses.

‘He’s a special player, a simple guy, a humble guy. He doesn’t need to tell people how good he is because you can see it clearly,’ said Maresca.

‘For sure when you score four goals it is a great performance. But I said to Cole he scored four, he could have scored two or three more, so it’s good that he continues to be hungry, ambitious.’

Of course, these kinds of feats are nothing new for Cole. He also netted four times in the same match at the Bridge against Everton in April, during a debut campaign with Chelsea which saw him post impressive figures – 25 goals and 15 assists – on his way to being named PFA Premier League Young Player of the Year and PFA Fans’ Premier League Player of the Year.

Combined with his part in England reaching the final of Euro 2024 over the summer, Palmer has plenty of achievements to be proud of over the last year. However, Maresca still sees the same humble player he first worked with when he was 18 years old in Manchester City’s academy.

‘I know Cole from many years ago. I had him in my team already for one entire season with the Under-23s at Man City and then with the first team. The best thing he has is that the way he is today as a boy, he was exactly the same three or four years ago.

‘He has got goals, assists, was voted the best player in the Premier League, but this doesn’t change the way he is. He’s a simple guy, a humble guy and for me this is the most important thing.

‘He's a top player and in today’s football, young players can change very quick – they score one goal and they think that they are at the top. Cole has scored many goals, got many assists, he’s a top player but he’s never changed and this is the most important thing.

‘I think if already many good things happen in his life as a professional to give him the chance to change but he didn’t change, that means probably the way he is, this is how he is always going to be.

‘Today with young people, young boys, they change very easy and the best thing for me is that he enjoys it, he loves football, and is always the same way. It’s something fantastic for him.’

So far this season Palmer has been used primarily as a No10 by Maresca, playing centrally behind the striker, but he has also featured on the wing or up front in the past for Chelsea and England.

Enzo is confident his current role is the best way to utilise him in this Chelsea team, but acknowledged a player of Cole’s talent can be successful across several positions.

‘We try to use Cole in that position because probably for me that is his best position, but he can play as a fake nine, a nine, a winger, in the pocket in the way he is playing now.

‘He can play in different positions because he is so good. The only thing I can say is that on the pitch is Cole’s best position!’

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