Cole Palmer snubbed as Joao Felix names Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca's 'favourite player'

Joao Felix says that Cole Palmer isn't Enzo Maresca's favourite Chelsea player at present.

22-year-old England star Palmer has been in scintillating form at Stamford Bridge since arriving from Premier League rivals Manchester City last September, netting 22 goals and bagging 11 assists in 33 games during the 2023/24 campaign. And his stellar performances even caught the eye of former Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate who took him as an instrumental part of England's Euro 2024 squad this summer.

Despite his achievements on the pitch, fellow Chelsea forward Felix believes that fresh boss Maresca, who took the reins in west London earlier this year, doesn't see Palmer as his favourite player. Speaking to Sky Sports at the EAFC 25 launch event earlier this week, the pacey Portuguese international answered a number of quickfire questions when he was asked who is the coach's favourite.

After letting out a short laugh, Felix answered: "Moi," in reference to defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo. The 22-year-old Ecuadorian arrived at The Bridge last August from Brighton for a record British fee of £115million, and has proven to be a sentinel in the centre of the park, making 35 appearances for the Blues last season.

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While Chelsea have plenty of room for rotation this season, after signing 11 fresh faces in the summer transfer window, Caicedo has started every Premier League match for his side this season - supported by the likes of Enzo Fernandes, Romeo Lavia, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Renato Veiga.

The star has also played in Chelsea's two UECL qualifiers against Swiss Super League side Servette, and looks to be one of Maresca's first names on the team sheet as they chase league and cup glory. Palmer, meanwhile, has also played in all six of Chelsea's Premier League fixtures this season thus far - with six goals and four assists to his name from attacking midfield.

The youngster opened his account for the campaign in the Blues' 6-2 win over Wolves, before finding the back of the net once again in a 3-0 win over London rivals West Ham. His most impressive game of the season in terms of goals, however, came at the weekend - in a 4-2 win over high flyers Brighton.

Georginio Rutter opened the scoring for the Seagulls on the seventh minute with a towering header off the back of a calamitous clearance, but Palmer levelled the game 14 minutes later when he passed the ball into the back of an empty net after receiving a pass from Nicolas Jackson at the edge of the area.

The youngster doubled down in the 28th by converting a cool penalty against Bart Verbruggen, before finding the top corner with a patented left-footed curler from a free kick well outside the box for his hat trick. Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba gave Brighton a glimmer of hope 34 minutes in, when he brought it back to 3-2 after pouncing on yet another defensive mistake, but Palmer sealed the win for the Blues minutes before half time with a low and hard strike at the near post to add a fourth to his tally for the day.

Palmer made history during the fixture by becoming the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League fixture, with Maresca describing him as the "best player" in the English top flight. He said of the talent: "He scored four, but he also could have scored two or three more.

"It's important he stays hungry, ambitious, and I know him from many years ago with the under-23s at City and with the first team. What he was as a boy is exactly what he was three or four years ago. Goals, assists, best player of the Premier League -- this doesn't change the way he is. He's a humble guy, and for me it's the most important thing."

Thanks to their victory at the weekend, Chelsea currently sit fourth in the Premier League with 13 points - just two behind league leaders Liverpool. The side face Gent in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, before hosting Nottingham Forest come next Sunday - and they will hope to keep up their incredible run of form as of recent.

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