Palmer Blasts Chelsea Complacency After Burnley Draw
Chelsea youngster Cole Palmer didn’t mince words after his team’s disappointing 2-2 home draw against Burnley. Despite taking the lead twice, the Blues squandered both advantages, with Burnley even playing most of the second half with ten men.

Costly Comfort Allows Burnley Back Into the Game
The expensively assembled Chelsea team appeared in control after Burnley’s Lorenz Assignon received a second yellow card for a foul on Mykhailo Mudryk. Top scorer Palmer capitalized on the penalty opportunity in the 44th minute.
However, Burnley’s Josh Cullen stunned the home crowd with a well-placed shot from outside the box just two minutes into the second half.
Despite the numerical advantage, Chelsea struggled to regain momentum. They eventually restored their lead in the 78th minute through another Palmer goal, this time a low strike.
But Burnley refused to be deterred. Just three minutes later, Dara O’Shea rose above the Chelsea defense to head home a corner, leaving the Blues languishing in mid-table.
Palmer Demands Improvement From Teammates
According to Metro, Speaking after the match, the England international didn’t shy away from criticizing his teammates. “Honestly, it’s unacceptable,” said Palmer. “This simply cannot happen, especially when we have a man advantage.”
Cole Palmer who earlier reported that Chelsea Manager Mauricio Pohettino gets the best out of the players as reported by Sports Buddy is displeased by the showing of his teammates in Burnley draw.
He continued, highlighting a recurring issue: “We got complacent again. It’s the same story; we keep shooting ourselves in the foot every week. This needs to improve from all of us as players. We need consistency.”
Pochettino Echos Palmer’s Frustration
Manager Mauricio Pochettino shared Palmer’s frustration at surrendering yet another lead, particularly against a team facing possible relegation back to the Championship.
“We lacked the energy and focus needed to handle the situation,” Pochettino said. “Communication on the pitch was also lacking.”
Drawing a comparison to a previous match, he added: “After the Wolverhampton game, the team seemed to be celebrating every tackle. Today, that same energy was missing. Maybe there’s a different reason behind it, but it can’t continue.”

Pochettino acknowledged areas for improvement: “We have a clear vision of what needs to be done to improve. We can’t sugarcoat reality. The way we conceded the first goal, especially when they were down a player, highlights the need for increased work rate. This isn’t about blaming individual players; it’s about collective responsibility.”
He concluded, emphasizing the need for a more cohesive unit: “We need to be tougher when we have a full squad. We need to function as a team, improve communication, and be more competitive.”