Cole Palmer sounds unfazed over his World Cup omission, saying he is ‘not crying’ over Thomas Tuchel’s decision to leave him out of the England squad.
Palmer was one of the highest profile players left out of the Three Lions squad, along with the likes of Phil Foden and Harry Maguire.
It was not a total shock, with the Chelsea star having an underwhelming season with the Blues as he dealt with a persistent groin problem.
However, many expected the 24-year-old to still get the nod in Tuchel’s 26-man squad for the summer tournament.
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Palmer has not been vocal on his omission – unlike Maguire – but has now spoken briefly about his reaction to missing the trip across the Atlantic.
‘This season hasn’t been the best, but it is what it is,’ Palmer told I-D. ‘I’m not crying over a decision you can’t change, and I hope the lads make it all the way.
He added on who he has spoken to since the squad announcement: ‘I don’t get too down. I just talk to my friends outside of football. They’re normal people, so it helps me feel normal, feel grounded.’
The former Manchester City forward is spending part of his summer on holiday in Ibiza and will probably be watching England’s games, but only if nothing better crops up.
‘If I’m not doing anything, then I’ll watch the matches, yeah,’ he said.
‘I’m going to relax this summer, rest for the first time in three or four years, before getting back to what I love.’
‘These games are more difficult than games against better team that are better going forward. There’s more space,’ said the Manchester United legend on the BBC.
‘I don’t want to go back to it, but these games are when you need a Phil Foden or a Cole Palmer. Clever players in tight areas.’
Jamie Carragher was another, writing in The Telegraph: ‘Rice and Bellingham are all about power and energy; they aren’t magicians in the spaces between the lines.
‘If this continues, the debate will start regarding Cole Palmer’s absence. We’ve seen so many games like this in major tournaments.
‘Those who championed Palmer’s inclusion foresaw tactical conundrums like this – which is why some of us thought it better to have him as an option.’