Cole Palmer reveals what Enzo Maresca must do at Chelsea as true feelings made clear

Cole Palmer has admitted he was "gutted" to see Mauricio Pochettino leave Chelsea - but he has backed new coach Enzo Maresca to improve the Blues' players and become a success at Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino left Chelsea by mutual consent at the end of the season despite guiding Chelsea to Europa Conference League qualification and was subsequently replaced by Maresca, who oversaw Leicester City's promotion to the Premier League.

Palmer, though, who was brought to Stamford Bridge by Pochettino in a £40m last September, has said he was sad to see the 52-year-old depart West London after just one season at the helm, adding that he owes his former manager a lot.

"He just gave me the opportunity and the freedom and said: ‘Do what you do’. I was [sorry to see him go] because he put his trust in me, and we built a good relationship," Palmer told The Telegraph. "Not just with him, but with all his staff who were there. When he left, I was gutted.

“He is probably the main reason [I am in the England squad] because a different manager might not have given me that freedom and opportunity to do what I did at Chelsea.”

However, Palmer isn't unfamiliar with Chelsea's new coach, Maresca, who he worked with during his time at Manchester City's academy: “Enzo was the one who put me at right wing," added Palmer. "From the [under] 18s I was playing [number] 10 and when I went to the 23s Enzo played me on the rig

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"That was my first full season on the right. He’s a good coach, a really good coach. I think tactically he knows what he is doing. He will improve a lot of the players."