Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has strongly refuted reports suggesting that England forward Cole Palmer is experiencing homesickness at Stamford Bridge. Despite claims that the 23-year-old, who grew up in Manchester and was a boyhood Manchester United fan, was missing life in the north, Rosenior stated that Palmer is “very, very happy” to be at the club. Palmer, who came through Manchester City’s academy before joining Chelsea for £42.5 million in 2023, signed a two-year contract extension in August 2024, potentially keeping him at Chelsea until 2033.

Rosenior emphasized that Palmer is a “huge part of our long‑term plans” and an “outstanding player.” He acknowledged that every player faces difficult moments, particularly with injuries, but affirmed that this does not reflect on Palmer’s quality or commitment. This period has been one of the most challenging in Palmer’s career, marked by injuries and a dip in form that has seen his goals and assists decline, with only four Premier League goals this season. His visible frustration during the second half of Chelsea’s 2-0 victory against Brentford was attributed by Rosenior to pain rather than unhappiness, explaining that Palmer “couldn't perform to the level he wanted to for the club.”

The club's approach to player welfare under Rosenior marks a shift from the tenure of former boss Enzo Maresca, under whom player fitness and pitch time became a point of controversy. Maresca reportedly attempted to rush players back from injury against medical advice, contributing to internal disagreements, particularly regarding Palmer's ongoing groin problem. Rosenior was appointed with the understanding that he would adhere to guidelines from medical staff, prioritizing player health. He articulated his job, and the club’s job, as ensuring Palmer reaches a consistent performance level, stressing the importance of looking after players “in the right way” and not forcing them to perform when not at their peak, which led to Palmer’s absence from a recent game.

Beyond player fitness, Rosenior also shared his perspective on leadership within the squad. He dismissed the notion that leadership is solely defined by vocal, demonstrative actions, stating, “There's different ways to lead.” He expressed satisfaction with the current group, citing players like Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Trevoh Chalobah, and Tosin Adarabioyo as leaders in their own right. Rosenior believes in allowing players to be themselves, rather than asking them to adopt roles that are unnatural to them, fostering an environment where leadership manifests in diverse forms.