Gary Neville has now claimed that one Chelsea player was comfortably the best player on the pitch tonight in the EFL Cup semi-final.
He said during his commentary for Sky Sports that he believes Cole Palmer was the worthy winner of player of the match in the second leg victory over Middlesbrough.
After a nightmare at the Riverside in the first leg a couple of weeks ago, Palmer made sure he put things right with a brilliant display at Stamford Bridge.
Instead of playing in the false nine role like he did last time, he featured just in front of a midfield duo of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
He missed three huge chances up in the North-East, however made no mistake with a brace tonight.
The £45m deadline day signing has easily been one of the club’s best players of the season so far, and today he proved why in easily the biggest game of the season in West London.
Neville was full of praise for Palmer, who picked up the player of the match award determined by the commentator.
He said: “He is always a great watch. So smooth and silky. Creates chances, scores goals tonight as well. He is really good on the eye.”
Palmer will be one of the Chelsea players travelling to Wembley to face either Liverpool or Fulham with experience of featuring at the famous old stadium.
In the curtain-raiser of the English season, the Community Shield, he found the net from range for Manchester City against Arsenal.
He also has become an England international off the back of a stellar season at Chelsea so far, with plenty more appearances to come if he continues this fine form.
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