Cole Palmer says Mauricio Pochettino has given him the freedom to roam the pitch since signing for Chelsea.
Palmer joined the Blues from boyhood club Manchester City at the end of the summer transfer window and has impressed in his short time with the club, scoring four goals and recording two assists in his first nine games under Pochettino.
The 21-year-old’s form has earned him a first call-up to the England senior team and the attacker says the opportunity he has been given under Pochettino has allowed him to kick on.
“I think he’s given me the confidence and the licence to go where I want on the pitch, where I can use my strengths,” Palmer said.
“I like to play in all the positions – false nine, right, middle. Wherever he puts me I’m happy to play there.”
Palmer’s decision to leave Manchester City came as a surprise to many given their success in recent seasons but the Chelsea man has cited the desire for more game time as his reason for wanting to move on.
And Pochettino’s track record of improving and developing young players also played a part in Palmer’s decision, the Manchester-born youngster said.
“A lot of people told me how he is with young players,” Palmer said.
“Ever since I went to Chelsea I can see it so I’m enjoying working with him and I’m excited to carry on working with him.
“It all happened really fast, to be fair. I spoke to someone at Chelsea and I was speaking to my dad but I really didn’t know what to do.
“I was just thinking about it for a couple of days, near enough every minute of the day, but then I just thought for my career, I had to go and get regular game time.
“It was a big move for me. I’ve never been out of Manchester, I’ve not been on loan or anything like that, so to move down there on my own was a big thing.”
