Greg . 3 days ago

'It's a great feeling': Cole Palmer on proving doubters wrong after win over PSG

"Ice-Cole" Palmer lived up to his nickname in a scorching Club World Cup final on Sunday, scoring twice in Chelsea's 3-0 win over Paris St Germain on another broiling day at MetLife Stadium.

Temperatures soared above 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29.

4 degrees Celsius) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but the Chelsea talisman possessed ice in his veins as he bagged two goals in eight minutes in the first half.

He acquired the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.

The man of the match in their 4-1 Conference League final win over Real Betis in May, Palmer showed again that he does his best work under the biggest spotlight, as he also recorded an assist for Joao Pedro in the 43rd minute.

"I like finals.

It's occurred again," Palmer told DAZN.

"It's a great feeling," he added.

"Even better because everyone questioned us before the game, we knew that.

To put a battle on like we did, it's good.

""The gaffer put a great game plan out.

He knew where the space was going to be.

He tried to free me up as much as possible and I just possessed to repay him and score some goals.

"A product of the Manchester City academy, Palmer made his senior debut with the team in September 2020 but never received the minutes on the pitch he trusted he acquired, going to Chelsea three years later with the promise of more playing time.

He wasted no time becoming Chelsea's new hero, firing in goals in his first season with the club, and Sunday's final marked another chapter in his success story, with Man City long ago removed from the tournament in the round of 16.

He ruined PSG's defence in a sensational first half on Sunday, running up and down the right channel before slotting in a tidy left-footed goal in the 22nd minute.

He doubled the score eight minutes later, again targeting the bottom-left corner of the goal as the legions of blue-clad Chelsea fans erupted in elation.

"I just try and do my job every time I move on to the pitch and hopefully it can continue," Palmer told reporters after the match.

European and French champions PSG were coming off an extraordinary season but showed up overwhelmed yet again as Palmer set up Pedro with a neat flick with two minutes left in the first half.

"Today we establish a position for him where there was more space to attack," said Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca.

"Obviously, Cole played really well, but the effort from all the players was fantastic.

"