‘He was very outstanding during that match. He deserved the Man of the match more than Tosin and Tosin would also agree. He will be very vital in our match against Benfica’ – This is according to Cole Palmer as Chelsea star delivered a display versus ES Tunis that even earned applause from Cole Palmer.

Since making the move to Chelsea from Manchester City in 2023, Cole Palmer has continued to impress those around him with his consistent performances. But during Chelsea’s recent 3-0 win over ES Tunis in the Club World Cup group stage, it was Palmer’s turn to show his admiration for a teammate.

With several changes made to the squad, Chelsea secured their place in the Round of 16—where they will face Benfica—thanks to goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap, and Tyrique George.

Delap netted his first goal for the club, but it was Adarabioyo’s standout performance that seemed to catch Palmer’s eye the most. The central defender opened the scoring with a powerful header from an Enzo Fernandez free-kick and went on to earn the player of the match award for his dominant display.

As Adarabioyo collected the accolade, Palmer was seen clapping appreciatively, clearly impressed by the defender’s contribution.

The 27-year-old was not part of the starting lineup in the UEFA Conference League final but made his presence felt by offering constant guidance from the sidelines—a moment one journalist described as “amazing.”

Against ES Tunis, Adarabioyo delivered an all-round solid performance:

• Minutes played: 90
• Goal: 1
• Clearances: 4
• Tackles: 1
• Aerial duels won: 1
• Touches: 126
• Passing accuracy: 97% (116/120)

While ES Tunis may not be the toughest opposition, Adarabioyo made a strong case for keeping his place in the starting eleven—especially as Chelsea continue exploring central defensive options, including reported interest in Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande.

Palmer, still yet to find the net in the tournament, will get another opportunity in Saturday’s clash with Benfica. But for now, it’s clear that Adarabioyo earned the spotlight—and his teammate’s respect.