Cole Palmer’s outstanding season, with accomplishments that often come with qualifiers like “not since Eden Hazard” or “not since Frank Lampard”, has been most well-deservedly recognized by the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.
Yes, the first for a Chelsea player since Eden Hazard in 2013-14 to win such an award — Hazard’s was the PFA version since the Premier League itself only started handing this out a few years ago. And Hazard already had five full seasons under his belt in France and England. Palmer’s a true rookie.
Of course, Palmer’s season has been great by any standard. With 32 goal involvements (22 goals, 10 assists) in just 33 games, it’s been a truly outstanding debut season for a summer signing that drew little else but mockery and confusion from all observers.
The sheer finality of Didier Drogba’s penalty kick after extra time of the 2012 Champions League Final is … a lot. To really appreciate that final, climactic moment and the astounding pressure involved, we’ve got to learn about several overlapping histories.
Congrats, Cold Palmer!
