Cole Palmer: Chelsea Are Not in Champions League Just to Learn
Cole Palmer says Chelsea are not in the Champions League just to learn — they are in it to compete and win now, SportsRation reports.
Palmer spoke after Chelsea lost 3-1 to Bayern Munich on Wednesday night in their first Champions League game since April 2023. Despite the result, the young England forward made it clear the team has high expectations.
“We are not coming here for it to be a learning curve,” Palmer said.
“We have shown tonight we want to compete and we want to do as best as we can.”
Chelsea’s squad is full of young talent, and many are playing in Europe’s top competition for the first time. Some observers, including former player Pat Nevin, believe the team still has a lot to learn at this level.
Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live:
“A lot of people were saying Chelsea would make a big impact — but let’s slow down. The step up to Champions League football is huge, and some of the players just don’t have the experience yet.”
Even Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca admitted the team made costly mistakes, saying they lost focus during the match.
“You cannot commit mistakes like we did,” Maresca said.
“But I told the players this is a game we can learn from and build something special.”
Chelsea started brightly, with good chances for Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez, but defensive errors led to Bayern’s goals. Palmer scored Chelsea’s only goal of the match.
Despite the defeat, Palmer’s words show a strong mindset. The young forward believes Chelsea can grow quickly and make a real impact in this season’s competition — not just in the future.
