Former France defender Marcel Desailly has raised doubts over Chelsea forward Cole Palmer’s psychological edge, labelling the England star a top talent who is not yet a “killer” inside.
Desailly, a World Cup winner and former Chelsea captain, argued that despite Palmer’s immense skill, the young forward needs to take greater responsibility for the team’s success and failures rather than remaining indifferent to how he is utilised across the pitch.
He urged the England international to demand a permanent role in the number 10 position from his new manager Xabi Alonso, asserting that all elite players must possess the internal drive to protect their status and dictate how they are used to win trophies.
Talent not in question
During an exclusive conversation with MrRaffle.com, Desailly said: “What a talent – there’s nothing to say against the talent of Palmer.
“The only doubt I have around Palmer is how he has been used. He’s playing on the right side.
“I saw him more playing in that position behind a striker and having the responsibility for the offensive animation.
“They did not give him that role. But I could also see that he never came out and said, ‘I can do it, I am ready for it.’”
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Mentally ‘not a killer’
Desailly added: “I feel that mentally – the talent is there, no doubt – but mentally he’s not a killer.
“Each top player has to be a killer inside himself. He wants to win trophies, he wants to be the best and he’s ready to work hard to become the best.
“I feel that Palmer is satisfied if he has to stay, okay; if he has to go, okay. He doesn’t seem to have a problem with anything.
“Because of the level he has reached today, he has to step up.
“Even though he’s young, he has to protect his status and take responsibility for success and also for the problems the team is facing.
“He needs to ask the coach to stop putting him right, left, up, down, striker or on the right.
“He needs to say, ‘No, I want to play as a number 10. I am capable of it, adapt the system to me.’
“So he’s not yet a killer. Talented, but no killer.”
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Geoffrey H. Latayan 
SportJustSport writers