Cole Palmer has revealed that Xabi Alonso has given him more freedom to express himself after taking over at Chelsea.
Palmer has made a strong start to the season, scoring and assisting in the 3-2 Premier League win against Fulham on Monday night.
Having been a standout in his first year at Chelsea, the 24-year-old struggled at times for form and fitness in the last campaign and missed out on a place in England’s World Cup squad.
But Palmer is enjoying working under his new manager, who has given the forward a free role.
"He [Alonso] just said I'd have more freedom to drift about the pitch,” Palmer explained to Sky Sports. “Just like you saw [against Fulham] with the goal I scored.
"Last season, I wouldn't have even made that run because it's not a 'safe zone'. But he's saying move across that zone, drop into play, come get on the ball, create and just do what you do."
Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season in a campaign that saw both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior sacked.
Former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss Alonso was installed at the start of the summer and has enjoyed good backing in the transfer market, with Morgan Rogers brought in from Aston Villa for more than £100m to bolster his attacking midfield options.
The trio of Joao Pedro, Palmer and Rogers have been dubbed “JP Morgan” by sections of the Chelsea fanbase – but Palmer thinks they can do better.
“It's a rubbish name,” he joked. “We need to come up with something better than that.
"I think we've got a different mix of qualities. Joao can do a bit of everything. Morgan's more physical and I'm more technical, so I think we've got a good balance."
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