Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has called on Cole Palmer to reflect on his behavior after the playmaker was sent off in a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Tottenham. The loss marked Spurs’ first victory at Stamford Bridge since 2018, secured through a Mike Penders own goal and a late strike by Mathys Tel. Palmer, who was already on a yellow card for a clash with Mateus Fernandes, received a second booking in the 80th minute for a late challenge on Conor Gallagher. Spurs, who had won on one of their previous 34 trips to west London, were already 1-0 up when Palmer earned a second yellow card for catching Conor Gallagher with a late tackle. The playmaker could have been sent off earlier – his first booking came during a clash with Mateus Fernandes – and Alonso agreed that this could be an important lesson for the 24-year-old. Still probably it was 15-20 minutes to go, when you have conceded for 1-0. I need to check the action to talk with Cole but it is one to learn for the future for sure.”. Forward sent off after 80 minutes for second yellow card.
Addressing the incident, Alonso emphasized the need for maturity during challenging periods of a match. “Absolutely,” the manager stated when asked if it was a learning opportunity. “I haven’t seen them back on TV, but as far as I have been told, the referee probably got it right. We need to have this maturity to deal with difficult moments.” Alonso added that while Palmer had also risked a red card against Everton last weekend, he does not view the player’s temperament as a long-term concern, insisting that it is a time to stay calm. According to alonso, There are no wider concerns with Palmer’s character, even though Chelsea’s No 10 could have been sent off against Everton last weekend too. “Today, for sure, yes, but it is not a concern,” Alonso said. “It is.
Chelsea’s setup was further hampered by the absence of João Pedro, who suffered an unspecified injury during training on Friday. Alonso noted that the forward is currently dealing with fluid in the area and the team is waiting on test results to determine the full extent of the issue. Meanwhile, the manager defended Penders, who struggled on his full Premier League debut by punching a corner into his own net. “We win, we lose together,” Alonso said, affirming the team’s support for the goalkeeper.
For Tottenham, manager Roberto De Zerbi sees the result as a potential turning point for his squad. Despite the victory, De Zerbi remained grounded, noting that while the team has won two consecutive games, they have not yet achieved their ultimate goals. “There is no reason why not,” he said regarding the prospect of using the win as a springboard, though he stressed the need for continued, incremental improvement week by week. I can’t understand why we have to ask this question.
