Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has an ‘uncoachable’ player in his squad for the 2024-25 season, ex-Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has claimed.
Italian boss Maresca is set for his debut campaign in charge of the Blues after he surprisingly replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge in the summer.
Maresca is likely going to have to rely heavily on Cole Palmer, who conjured up an incredible 22 goals and 11 assists across 34 Premier League games last term.
Palmer was rewarded with a fresh contract – and a new bumper salary – on Tuesday and Defoe believes you ‘cannot coach’ the player in certain aspects, although that is only because he is so technically gifted and such a top star.
Defoe is a huge fan of Palmer and has lauded him in an interview with Sky Sports as the former Spurs star said: ‘I like his temperament.He’s so calm and he gets on with business. Technically, he is gifted.
‘A lot of things he does, you cannot coach. It’s just natural. He just does it and it’s off the cuff.
‘He’s a special player, which is why he’s signed a longer contract. Of course, we’d have loved to have seen more of him at Euro 2024 [for England].
‘He’s one of those players that can create something out of nothing. He is a coach’s dream.
‘I think he can still improve. He’s still young. He’s only going to get better. When you look at his numbers last season, the amount of goals he scored, it was amazing.
‘If he can do that again, or even more, it will be great for Chelsea. What he’s shown already in such a short space of time, it has just been amazing.
‘I’m really looking forward to seeing him. He is a player you pay money to watch. He’s so exciting, give him the ball and he’ll create stuff.
‘He’s brave. He wants the ball and he takes responsibility. He’s got personality. I’m looking forward to seeing him this season.’
Palmer was named both Premier League Young Player of the Season and Chelsea Player of the Season last term.