In the aftermath of Chelsea’s dramatic 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on January 4, 2026, Cole Palmer delivered another set of headline-grabbing post-match comments – but this time, they were full of admiration rather than frustration.
The England international, returning to his boyhood club for the first time since Enzo Maresca’s shock departure, was asked about Manchester City’s dominance in midfield and the player who made life particularly difficult for the Blues. Palmer didn’t hesitate: “Although we fought with everything we had, it didn’t change the result [in terms of winning]. He’s truly talented and terrifying. We had absolutely no chance of taking the ball from him — not a single chance.”
The player in question? None other than Rodri, the Spanish midfield maestro who has long been the heartbeat of Pep Guardiola’s side.
It wasn’t Tijjani Reijnders, who opened the scoring with a thunderous strike just before halftime, curling a left-footed effort into the roof of the net after a fortunate bounce fell his way. Nor was it Erling Haaland, who terrorized the Chelsea defense as usual, forcing multiple saves from Filip Jørgensen and hitting the woodwork twice in a frustrating display for the Norwegian striker.
No, Palmer’s glowing tribute was reserved for Rodri – the unflappable No.6 who dictated play from deep, completing over 95% of his passes, winning duels effortlessly, and shielding City’s backline with his trademark positional intelligence. On a night when City controlled 68% possession and registered 22 shots to Chelsea’s 9, Rodri’s influence was omnipresent, breaking up play and launching attacks with pinpoint distribution.
Palmer, who knows Rodri well from their time together in City’s academy and first team, has often spoken highly of the 29-year-old in the past, but this post-match endorsement carried extra weight given the context. The 23-year-old had a quiet game by his sky-high standards – rated as low as 5/10 by some outlets, with zero shots on target, no key passes, and limited involvement as Chelsea sat deep for large periods under interim boss Calum McFarlane.
Yet, Palmer’s honesty shone through. Speaking to reporters pitchside, he elaborated: “Rodri is just different class. You see him week in, week out – he makes everything look easy. When he’s on it like that, it’s terrifying for the opposition because the ball just sticks to him. We pressed hard, but yeah… no chance.”
The comments quickly went viral on social media, with City fans lapping up the praise from a former academy star who “got away,” while Chelsea supporters appreciated Palmer’s class in giving credit where it was due, even in a match where the Blues snatched a valuable point through Enzo Fernández’s stoppage-time equalizer.
Rodri himself has been in imperious form this season, anchoring City’s push for another Premier League title despite their recent stumbles – including this dropped points against a managerless Chelsea side reeling from turmoil. His absence through injury earlier in the campaign highlighted his irreplaceable role, with City struggling without him.
Guardiola, visibly frustrated post-match after seeing his team dominate only to concede late, would have taken solace in Palmer’s words. The Catalan has repeatedly called Rodri the best in the world in his position, and endorsements from elite peers like Palmer only reinforce that.
For Chelsea, the draw was a morale-boosting result amid chaos – their first game post-Maresca, with U21s coach McFarlane earning plaudits for a resilient setup that frustrated City. New signings like Estêvão Willian and João Pedro showed glimpses, while veterans like Reece James (named Man of the Match) and Fernández delivered when it mattered.
But Palmer’s praise for Rodri stole the show off the pitch. It’s a reminder of the mutual respect between the clubs, linked through academy products and shared history. Palmer left City in 2023 seeking regular minutes and has since become one of the Premier League’s standout stars – but on this evidence, he still holds the Etihad’s midfield king in the highest regard.
As Chelsea look ahead to appointing a permanent manager (with Liam Rosenior heavily linked) and their next clash against Fulham, Palmer’s words underscore the benchmark: to compete with the best, you have to overcome players like Rodri. On this night, even “Cold Palmer” admitted – they couldn’t.
Reactions poured in across X:
• “Cole Palmer bigging up Rodri like that? Class act. That’s why we love him.” – Man City fan account
• “Palmer speaking facts about Rodri. The guy is a monster.” – Neutral pundit
• “Even opposing players can’t deny Rodri’s greatness 🔥” – Trending post with thousands of likes
The football world continues to buzz – not just about the late drama, but about Palmer’s candid admiration for the man who ran the show.
