Cole Palmer has been blown away by two Chelsea summer signings and insists the club ‘should be winning trophies’ this season following their improvement under Enzo Maresca.
Maresca’s reign at Stamford Bridge was threatening to unravel midway through last season but Pep Guardiola’s former assistant managed to turn things around.
Chelsea qualified for the Champions League on the final day of the season and won the Conference League, beating La Liga side Real Betis 4-1 in the final.
Maresca then led Chelsea to glory in the Club World Cup as the Blues beat the likes of PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to triumph in the States.
Chelsea began their 2025-26 Premier League campaign with a goalless draw with Crystal Palace and looked in desperate need of further games after a shortened pre-season due to the Club World Cup.
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Palmer says the club’s trajectory and the fact they are world champions demands that more silverware is won this season.
Asked whether the team are under more pressure after winning the Club World Cup, he told NBC Sports: ‘Yeah, definitely because the way the club’s going, the direction, everyone’s excited.
‘We should be winning trophies.’
To help Maresca achieve that, Chelsea have spent another £250m on new signings this summer, bringing the likes of Joao Pedro, Jorrel Hato, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap to Stamford Bridge.
Palmer already ‘loves’ playing with Pedro, who starred in the latter stages of the Club World Cup after completing a £60m move from Brighton.
‘He’s so good man,’ Palmer said of the Brazilian. ‘I love playing with him.
‘Even in training we just have good chemistry and know where each other are going to be.
‘It was amazing to see him come in. We knew he was a good player before but to see it in person was really good.’
Palmer also has high hopes for Delap, who is set to compete with Pedro for a place in the Chelsea team, though there are ways both can play in the same XI.
Chelsea met Delap’s £30m Ipswich Town release clause after he impressed for the relegated side last season.
‘I just think he’s something different,’ Palmer said when asked what Delap would bring to the Blues.
‘He’s different to Joao and other strikers I’ve played with. He’s more old-school, he’s aggressive, he’ll run in behind, he’s just a handful for defenders and he’s one of the best finishes I’ve seen as well.
‘Hopefully those two together score some goals between them.’
Chelsea face two London derbies during the remainder of the month, first taking on struggling West Ham at the London Stadium and then facing Fulham at Craven Cottage.
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