Featured Image Credit: Getty & Optus Sports
Topics: Cole Palmer, Chelsea, Enzo Maresca
Josh Lawless
Cole Palmer had a hilariously brilliant response to a question from a journalist about Chelsea's 16-year-old starlet Reggie Walsh on Thursday.
Chelsea reached another European final after beating Swedish side Djurgarden 5-1 over two legs in the Europa Conference League semi-finals, setting up a showdown with Real Betis in Wroclaw, Poland.
But the semi-final was a historic one for Chelsea as Walsh, born in 2008 and after the Blues reached the Champions League final, made his senior debut and became the club's third-youngest ever player.
Advert
With Chelsea leading 4-1 going into the second leg, Walsh was then handed a start and broke a record as the club's youngest starter in a European fixture aged 16 years and 200 days.
He was the talk of the town after the 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge and though Palmer was rested ahead of a crunch clash with Newcastle, he was involved in a funny exchange with a journalist in the mixed zone.
Even with Palmer still early into his career aged 23, the PFA Player of the Year was called an "old man" by a reporter in comparison to Walsh and the England international had a quick-witted response.
Advert
"F***ing hell, what are you then compared to Reggie?" Palmer replied, as per the Daily Mail.
"Obviously Reggie is young but he’s trained with us a few times. He’s a very good player. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do."
Palmer made his professional debut back in 2020 for Manchester City and played 41 times before completing a £40 million move to Chelsea in 2023.
He has become a key player for club and country but Walsh, an England Under 17 international and seven years younger than Palmer, has been described as "perfect" by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.
Advert
“I love Reggie," he said in a post-match press conference.
"He’s that kind of player that, in my system, the way I want to play, he’s perfect.
“You struggle to find players so young. He’s 16 – one six. You could see he was asking for the ball and how good he is on the ball.
Advert
“Tomorrow he has to go to school. It’s important for him – he has to continue that.”