Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has said Cole Palmer is grateful to Manchester City and Pep Guardiola for their role in his development.
Palmer came through the academy ranks at the Etihad before deciding to leave the club last summer, agreeing a deal to sign for Chelsea in search of regular first-team football.
The 21-year-old had found opportunities limited with the Premier League champions but has flourished amid a regular role at Chelsea, scoring 20 league goals to sit as the joint-leader in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot.
Palmer’s impact means he will be the biggest threat to his former side when Chelsea take on Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend.
However, Pochettino has dismissed the suggestion that Palmer will be playing with a point to prove, insisting the England international is grateful for the role the Citizens had in his development.
“Honestly, always we never judged the players when we signed the players but we believe they can perform. It is true he is performing in a very good way. I think it’s his first consistent season playing. Also we need to be careful because he is young and he is growing,” Pochettino said at his pre-match press conference on Palmer’s impact.
“He already played twice in the Premier League [against Manchester City]. He is very grateful to Manchester City and to coach Pep Guardiola. He always talks very highly about them and Pep. He’s not this type of player to have something inside.
“I think he understood perfectly that maybe for different reasons he wanted to prove himself in another club. I think also a thank you to Manchester City for giving the opportunity to him to move to another club. He is very grateful and talked kindly about Pep and Manchester City.”
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