Frank Lampard praised the performance of Cole Palmer after the Chelsea star performed well against his former club, despite another disappointing Wembley defeat.
The England player left his childhood club in the summer to find regular game time. According to Pep Guardiola, he had been wanting to move for two years.
Palmer has become one of the most exciting talents in England after a season with many goals, putting him in contention for the unlikely Golden Boot, alongside Erling Haaland.
The 21-year-old had another outstanding performance at Wembley but ended up on the losing team as City went to the final after Bernardo Silva’s late goal.
Despite another disappointing defeat, Lampard saw more positive signs from Mauricio Pochettino’s emerging side, especially in Palmer’s performance.
He told the BBC: ‘They have delivered good performances against top teams. They did it twice against Manchester City, they did it against Arsenal, and they did it against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
‘There is good organization and determination. Throughout the season, they have lacked consistency, but today they had a good all-around performance and you can see those small signs of positivity. Cole Palmer has confidently played the game and dominated to some extent.
‘He is the player you want in front of goal because he was the one making all the passes today. There were many positive aspects today, but considering the transitional squad they have, let’s give them time and see if they improve.’
Lampard later added: ‘Cole Palmer arrived at a club that is having a tough time. Maybe it has worked well for him as it has made him stand out, but it is not easy to arrive with such confidence and calm self-assurance.
‘Today is another accomplishment for him. Wembley, high pressure, against Man City, can you perform again at a high level? And he has just done it.
‘The fact that he has adapted so quickly is amazing, and there’s no telling how far he can go for Chelsea and England.’
Fellow BBC pundit Alan Shearer echoed Lampard’s praise, saying: ‘Cole Palmer is the standout player of this Chelsea team, the driving force of the side. Everything good that happens, he is a part of it.
‘His technique, his attitude, his ability to find and execute a pass at the right time.
‘Mauricio Pochettino would have been hoping for one of those big chances to have fallen to Palmer instead of Nicolas Jackson because the outcome would have been different.
‘He just couldn’t find himself in those dangerous positions to get in on goal himself. He is here to stay, a top quality player.’
