Chelsea’s attacking stars dazzled in pre-season, but they couldn’t break through in a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace to kick off their Premier League campaign.
Despite the stalemate, Cole Palmer remains confident that the Blues have the firepower to compete for silverware this season, singling out two new signings who have already caught his eye.
The Blues fielded a revamped attack against Palace, with Joao Pedro, a 55 million pounds signing from Brighton, leading the line, flanked by Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto, while Palmer pulled the strings as a number 10. Despite their 250 million pounds forward line, Palace carved out the better chances in the first half, leaving Chelsea fans wanting more.
Palmer, however, sees brighter days ahead. Speaking to NBC Sports, he expressed excitement about the club’s direction under manager Enzo Maresca, especially after their FIFA Club World Cup triumph in July 2025.
“There’s definitely more pressure now because of how the club are moving forward,” he said. “Everyone’s excited, and we should be winning trophies.”
The England star pinpointed Joao Pedro and Liam Delap as key reasons for his optimism. Pedro, who joined mid-tournament during the Club World Cup, made an instant impact, scoring in each of his games, including a stunning chip in the 3-0 final win over Paris Saint-Germain. “He’s so good,” Palmer said. “We just click in training. You can see the chemistry straight away. We knew he was quality, but seeing it up close is something else.”
Delap, signed from Ipswich for 30 million pounds, also earned high praise. “He’s different,” Palmer said. “He’s got that old-school striker vibe—aggressive, always running in behind, a real handful. His finishing is unreal, one of the best I’ve seen.”
Delap’s direct style contrasts with Pedro’s flair, giving Maresca’s side a versatile edge.
Both strikers showed their potential in pre-season, with Pedro netting in a 4-1 rout of AC Milan and Delap bagging a brace off the bench in the same match.
On X, Delap shared his excitement: “I came here to play in big games and compete for big trophies. We’ve got an incredible squad, and everyone’s hungry.”
Pedro echoed the sentiment, saying, “I don’t want to call it competition with Liam. It’s just good for Chelsea if both strikers are at a top level.”
Maresca’s tactics, blending a high press with fluid positional play, have started to click. The Blues often shift from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-3 in possession, with inverted full-backs like Marc Cucurella creating central overloads to free up players like Palmer and Enzo Fernandez. This flexibility helped them dominate PSG in the Club World Cup final, where Palmer scored twice and assisted Pedro’s goal.
Despite the goalless start against Palace, Chelsea’s new-look attack showed flashes of promise. Maresca, speaking after the match, remained upbeat: “Joao and Liam are our strikers, and we need them scoring goals. We’re very happy with both.”
With tough London derbies against West Ham and Fulham looming, Pedro and Delap have a chance to prove they can fire Chelsea to the top. If Palmer’s instincts are right, the Blues could be in for an action-packed season.
