Chelsea's young guns proved they have what it takes to compete with the best in European football, as they secured a thrilling comeback win over Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The Blues trailed 2-1 at half-time, but an inspired second-half display from substitutes João Pedro and Cole Palmer ultimately sealed a 3-2 victory.
For Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, this result is more than just a morale-booster - it's a vital learning experience for his young team. "That's what experience is," he said. "It's nights like this and also having setbacks and understanding why setbacks happen."
The Chelsea squad has shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity, and Rosenior was quick to praise their spirit and determination. "We've not had an away win in the Champions League for a long time, so that's a great marker for the team and hopefully we can continue," he said.
The turning point came when Cole Palmer, who was not even expected to start due to injury concerns, made his presence felt during the second half. Rosenior praised Palmer's pressing, running, and overall performance, saying it was "magnificent." The Chelsea star had been forced to endure an injury-hit season, but he managed himself well in the last two weeks before making a triumphant comeback.
Palmer's cameo added to an excellent double from João Pedro, who had given Chelsea the lead with an early penalty. However, Napoli's response was swift and decisive, taking the game 2-1 at half-time. It looked like Chelsea's Champions League hopes were over, but Rosenior's side dug deep and responded with a spirited second-half display.
For Rosenior, this result is just the beginning of something special. He emphasized the need to look after his players, particularly Palmer, who has endured an injury-plagued season. "We need to see him absolutely relish nights like this on big occasions," he said.
With this result, Chelsea has secured a place in the knockout phase of the Champions League, avoiding the inconvenience of next month's playoff. Rosenior's side will be eager to build on this momentum and continue their upward trajectory under his leadership.
For Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, this result is more than just a morale-booster - it's a vital learning experience for his young team. "That's what experience is," he said. "It's nights like this and also having setbacks and understanding why setbacks happen."
The Chelsea squad has shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity, and Rosenior was quick to praise their spirit and determination. "We've not had an away win in the Champions League for a long time, so that's a great marker for the team and hopefully we can continue," he said.
The turning point came when Cole Palmer, who was not even expected to start due to injury concerns, made his presence felt during the second half. Rosenior praised Palmer's pressing, running, and overall performance, saying it was "magnificent." The Chelsea star had been forced to endure an injury-hit season, but he managed himself well in the last two weeks before making a triumphant comeback.
Palmer's cameo added to an excellent double from João Pedro, who had given Chelsea the lead with an early penalty. However, Napoli's response was swift and decisive, taking the game 2-1 at half-time. It looked like Chelsea's Champions League hopes were over, but Rosenior's side dug deep and responded with a spirited second-half display.
For Rosenior, this result is just the beginning of something special. He emphasized the need to look after his players, particularly Palmer, who has endured an injury-plagued season. "We need to see him absolutely relish nights like this on big occasions," he said.
With this result, Chelsea has secured a place in the knockout phase of the Champions League, avoiding the inconvenience of next month's playoff. Rosenior's side will be eager to build on this momentum and continue their upward trajectory under his leadership.
just saw that there's another massive coral bleaching event happening worldwide 
scientists are saying it's worse than the last one and we're running out of time to save these ecosystems 
... I mean, I do love seeing Chelsea come back from 2-1 down 
... but at the same time, I think they should've been up by more goals to make it a bit less dramatic 
... and what's with Cole Palmer starting again? Shouldn't he be resting his injury? 
... on the other hand, he did play amazingly well 
... and Rosenior is right, experience is key 
️... but shouldn't they've learned from their mistakes earlier on instead of having to come back twice? 
I was literally glued to my screen watching it unfold. Cole Palmer's sub and performance was insane, I mean who expected that from him? 
Chelsea's squad is so resilient, they really do have what it takes to compete with the best. Rosenior is one lucky coach to get players like Palmer who can make a difference on big nights like this. Fingers crossed for more wins and an awesome season ahead 
. I mean, coming back from 2-1 down at halftime? That takes guts 
. And Cole Palmer's surprise cameo was pure magic 
. The kid's got skills and Rosenior's got a good eye for spotting talent 
. Now, can they keep this momentum going? We'll be watching 
! I love how Rosenior is praising his team's resilience and spirit - it's clear they're learning from their setbacks. This result is huge for Chelsea's Champions League hopes, and I'm hyped to see what's next for them! They need to keep feeding that momentum 
OMG you guys, Chelsea just pulled off the craziest comeback win EVER! 2-1 down at halftime and they come back to win 3-2!!! 
Cole Palmer is literally a superhero - he was meant to be on the bench but ended up being the game-changer! 
Can't wait to see what happens next, this is defo gonna be a wild ride 
his pressing, running, and performance were MAGNIFICENT 
his tactics and man-management are spot on 
giving Palmer his chance and letting him shine was pure genius 
. this result is a huge morale booster for the team, and now they're in the knockout phase... can't wait to see what's next for them! 
he was supposed to miss out due to injury but managed to come in and make such a difference 
. it's not just about winning, it's about learning from setbacks and growing as a team 
️. cole palmer, u r a legend! 
. And what's with Cole Palmer not even starting due to injury concerns only to become the hero of the match? That's just weird 