Chelsea star Cole Palmer has revealed who he wanted to win the Premier League as Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool battled for the title.
Despite challenges from Arsenal and Liverpool, Man City emerged triumphant from a thrilling title race to win a record fourth successive Premier League trophy and sixth in seven years.
Arsenal were bidding to end a 20-year wait for a league title and took the race to the final day but ultimately fell short despite amassing 89 points.
Liverpool, meanwhile, were still in the title race with a few weeks of the season remaining before falling away in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield and finishing third, nine points behind Man City.
Palmer could have played a part in another Premier League title win had he not left to join Chelsea last summer but insists he has ‘no regrets’ over his decision and was ‘glad’ to see his former club retain the trophy.
‘I was hoping Man City would win the title as I have got a lot of friends there, so I’m glad that they did it,’ Palmer told The Sun. ‘But there’s no regrets at all for the decision I took.’
Palmer only scored six goals in 41 appearances for Manchester City but emerged as one of the most prolific players in the Premier League this season.
The 22-year-old scored 22 goals and made 11 assists in 33 league games, starring in an inconsistent Chelsea side that were languishing in mid-table for most of the season before a late charge saw them climb to sixth.
Palmer’s incredible form saw him named the Premier League young player of the season and find himself in Gareth Southgate’s provisional England squad for Euro 2024.
Southgate will cut at least seven players from the current 33-man squad next week but Palmer is hoping to travel with the Three Lions to Germany this summer.
‘I’ll play anywhere to be involved, I don’t mind where,’ he insisted. ‘But if not, it is what it is. I couldn’t really have done any more.
‘I want to be on that plane rather than going off on holidays. I have done a lot with the Under-21s so hopefully now it’s the time to step up.
‘I think it’s a squad that can go far because it looks like a good team. I don’t see why England can’t go the whole way.
‘They’ve got to semis and finals recently and been unlucky. So that’s shown they can go all the way in tournaments, now they just need to go and win it.’
Palmer will be playing under a new manager next season after Mauricio Pochettino’s surprise departure from Stamford Bridge.
Leicester City boss and former Pep Guardiola assistant Enzo Maresca is the frontrunner to replace Pochettino at Chelsea.
Discussing Pochettino’s exit, Palmer added: ‘When he first came he installed the foundations and made sure everyone knew what was required.
‘Then he started to teach us what he wanted to do. But first we needed that base. As a man-manager, he would push you if you slack off.
‘He’s been really good for me. He kept me relaxed and we had a really good relationship.
‘He had a tough job, half the team has been injured – some very important players, too – so it’s been difficult for him. But everyone loved him. All the players did and he’s been very important for me as well.’