Respect for Chelsea star hindered by Cole Palmer, says report from Express.co.uk.
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Malo Gusto and Cole Palmer have shone for Chelsea this season (Image: GETTY)
On the whole, it’s been a disappointing season for Chelsea.
Even victories in all of their final seven Premier League games – which seems unlikely – would see them end on a maximum of 68 points. Only twice between 2003-04 and 2018-19 did the Londoners end with less than that.
This would be the third time in four seasons since then they have got 68 or less. Of course it hasn’t been all doom and gloom.
Chelsea can still reach an FA Cup final, which would give them chance to atone for their Carabao Cup heartbreak at Wembley, and Cole Palmer has been an absolute revelation. That man is Malo Gusto, who it is easy to forget is still just 20 himself.
He has impressed on both sides of the ball and perhaps most remarkably, has looked flawless in almost every match he’s played. The numbers back it up.
Fbref’s scout report has Gusto in the top 93 percentile of full-backs in the main five leagues for assists, passes attempted, passes completed, progressive carries, touches and tackles. Gusto is heavily involved and is highly effective when he’s involved, too.
His only weakness is his aerial duels but very few of his Chelsea team-mates post better figures in terms of pass success, key passes made and tackle success. He was also chiefly involved in making sure the striker celebrated with Palmer after he converted his spot-kick.
It was the latest evidence of a mentality that has been crucial to the defender’s personal success at the Bridge so far. Gusto has been so good that Mauricio Pochettino will find it difficult to bench him for skipper James next season.
It might even be possible that he deploys a back three with James the right-sided centre-back and Gusto the wing-back. It would be quite unfair to drop the full-back, despite James’ class, given how well he has performed this term.
He has massive promise. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding.
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In the wider sphere of the Premier League, Gusto’s form has gone somewhat overlooked.
That is partly due to Chelsea’s form as a team and partly because Palmer is the obvious headline-maker with his extraordinary contributions. Everyone has been too busy praising the No.
20 to praise his team-mate. But Chelsea fans rightly recognise Gusto’s balanced displays.
And he can still get a lot better, too. Palmer is the obvious success story.
But they have another gem in Gusto too, and he deserves his flowers.
