Cole Palmer’s Masterclass: The Unsung Hero Behind Bournemouth’s Penalty Miss
Chelsea secured a vital 2-1 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League, and it was a moment of genius from Cole Palmer that could have been the turning point. Despite not scoring, the former Manchester City man made a huge impact on the game, and fans are hailing him as the "genius" who got under the skin of Bournemouth’s new signing, Evanilson.
Palmer withdrew from the England squad during the international break to focus on his Chelsea duties, and his presence was felt throughout the game. He started the match against the Cherries and played a key role in frustrating Bournemouth’s attack.
The Cherries had the better chances in the first half, hitting the woodwork twice through Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie. However, Chelsea’s pressure eventually told, and Enzo Maresca’s side snatched the three points with a late goal from Christopher Nkunku.
The real talking point of the game, though, was Palmer’s involvement in Evanilson’s penalty miss. The Brazilian international missed a spot-kick just before halftime, and fans believe Palmer’s "mind games" played a huge role in the miss.
In a video clip, Palmer can be seen constantly trying to talk to Evanilson before the penalty, and even got into a heated exchange with him. While it’s difficult to quantify the exact impact, it’s clear that Palmer’s antics unsettled the Brazilian.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp was impressed by Palmer’s antics, saying, "Palmer is trying to get into peoples’ heads, ‘are you going to take it?’" He added, "Having a little discussion about it, trying to get into his head, all part of the psychology of football."
While it’s not clear how much Evanilson understood what Palmer was saying, it’s evident that the Chelsea man got under his skin. This is not the first time Palmer has been praised for his mind games, and fans are hailing him as the "unsung hero" behind Bournemouth’s penalty miss.
In the words of one fan, "This guy is a genius." Another fan added, "Palmer man of the match for getting in Evanilson’s head before the penalty." With performances like this, it’s no wonder Chelsea fans are loving every minute of Palmer’s game.
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