Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink explains ‘how you react’ to adversity matters as he praises Cole Palmer for clinical second leg against Middlesbrough… while Chelsea boss Mauricio …
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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink applauded Cole Palmer for redeeming himself with a double against Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-finals – after a toothless first leg left him frustrated.
The former Blues striker was impressed with how Palmer reacted after missing multiple chances in the reverse fixture at the Riverside.
Chelsea booked their place in the Carabao Cup final with a 6-1 triumph over Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge, overhauling a 1-0 defeat in the North East.
Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi, and Noni Madueke were all on the scoresheet while Jonny Howson scored an own goal – though Middlesbrough did get a late consolation via Morgan Rodgers.
‘As a footballer, you’re going to go through those moments. You’re going to miss easy chances,’ Hasselbaink explained, referring to Palmer’s multiple missed chances in the first leg.
Cole Palmer scored twice against Middlesbrough as Chelsea reached the Carabao Cup final
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was impressed with how he bounced back from a wasteful first leg
‘It’s about what the next step is, how you react in the next match. He showed his quality today with two good goals.
‘ Two weeks ago they had three good chances with Palmer and they didn’t take it. Today they punished Middlesbrough when they made a mistake. They were clinical.’
Palmer lifted Mail Sport’s coveted man of the match award for the game, scoring 8.5 in Adrian Kajumba’s ratings.
Chelsea have had a feeble season by their usual standards, sitting ninth in the Premier League table, way off Champions League contention.
They might be turning a corner having won five of their last six games and reaching a first final is a welcome boost to Mauricio Pochettino and Todd Boehly’s administration.
Chelsea will either play Liverpool or Fulham in the final on February 25.
Palmer said: ‘I missed three sitters in the first game so it was always in the back of my mind coming into this game. But to score two and go through to Wembley, obviously [that’s] the most important thing so we’re happy.’
Pocchettino gushed with praise for Palmer after they thrashed Championship side Middlesbrough.
He said: ‘He’s a player with an amazing talent. A player that understands the game. He has the quality and the talent to see and analyse the situation, read the game, he knows the aspects.
Mauricio Pochettino highlighted Cole Palmer’s awareness, versatility, and defensive efforts as part of his ‘amazing’ qualities
‘He’s a player who is so versatile, can play from the right, can play from the striker role, in behind the striker.
‘ I think he is very dynamic, we try to give some freedom for him to move. In every single situation he can find the best position for the team.
‘For me one of the most important characteristics when we don’t have the ball is in the way he presses and tries to get the ball back. I think he’s a talented player. He’s still young but he’s doing fantastic for us.’
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