Former Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has voiced concern over Cole Palmer’s inconsistency following Chelsea’s 3-1 loss to Flamengo in the FIFA Club World Cup on Friday night.
Palmer, who had a standout debut season with the Blues, failed to impress in the clash against the Brazilian giants and was eventually substituted for Marc Guiu in the closing stages of the second half.
Sharing his thoughts on the England international’s performance, Mikel told DAZN, “It is a bit worrying. Cole is a fantastic player, everything goes through him but sometimes he disappears in games where you don’t see him and that has happened again.
“But he needs to know that he is now a marked man. You will play against teams and they will know if you take out Cole Palmer, you can nullify the way they play.”
Mikel’s remarks reflect growing concerns about Palmer’s dip in form during the 2024–25 season, especially after a dazzling first year at Stamford Bridge.
As Chelsea prepare to take on ES Tunis next week, all eyes will be on Palmer to deliver a stronger performance.
