Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer has opened up about the pain of being left out of England's FIFA World Cup 2026 squad, saying the omission has sharpened his hunger ahead of the new club season. Palmer spoke to reporters during Chelsea's pre-season tour in Sydney on 31 July, offering his most candid assessment yet of a summer that combined personal disappointment with an extended rest.

The World Cup Exclusion

Palmer was among the most high-profile absentees from Thomas Tuchel's England squad, a surprise given his decisive contribution to the country's run to the UEFA Euro 2024 final. The 24-year-old acknowledged that an inconsistent domestic campaign with Chelsea — who finished a disappointing 10th in the Premier League last season — played a role in Tuchel's decision.

'It's like anything. If someone tells you you're essentially not good enough to get in the squad, then you're going to think, 'all right', and try and work even harder,' Palmer said.

Rather than dwell on the setback, Palmer has chosen to treat it as fuel. He also noted a silver lining: an uninterrupted seven-week summer break that has left him physically and mentally refreshed.

'It was obviously disappointing, but I had seven weeks off during the summer. I feel fresh and ready to get going again,' he said.

New Manager, New Energy

Chelsea begin this campaign under new head coach Enzo Alonso, the former Spain international who has taken over at Stamford Bridge. Palmer indicated the change in management has been immediately felt within the squad.

'He and his staff have been good. They're a breath of fresh air for us players with their ideas and stuff. We're enjoying it,' Palmer said.

Chelsea kicked off Alonso's reign with a 6-4 pre-season victory over Western Sydney Wanderers and are scheduled to face Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday.

Morgan Rogers Arrival and a New Partnership

Palmer also spoke warmly about the arrival of Morgan Rogers, who joined Chelsea from Aston Villa in a British-record transfer. The two players came through Manchester City's academy together and have represented England at youth level, making the reunion a personal as well as professional milestone for Palmer.

'Everyone knows how good he is, and obviously he's one of my best friends, so I'm very happy about him coming here,' Palmer said.

Palmer revealed he had been actively lobbying Rogers to make the move. 'I was texting him even more, persuading him to come. He was probably sick of me by that point. I'm glad he's here now, and I'm looking forward to sharing the pitch with him,' he said, adding that Rogers had told him privately about the transfer before it was announced publicly — 'a difficult secret to keep.'

Contrasting Styles, Complementary Threat

Palmer believes his partnership with Rogers could unlock a new attacking dimension for Chelsea, precisely because of how differently the two operate.

'I think we're different players who can both offer a lot to the team. He's more physical than me, on and off the ball, and he likes to drive forward more, whereas I like to play more passes. I think we can play well together, and we obviously did that when we were young anyway,' Palmer said.

With a new manager, a close ally now in the squad, and a point to prove after his World Cup exclusion, Palmer heads into the new season with perhaps more motivation than at any previous point in his career. How Chelsea harness that energy could prove decisive in their push to climb back up the Premier League table.