Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer has admitted that it felt "very strange" to score against his former club Manchester City in Sunday's thrilling 4-4 draw in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer decided to end his 15-year association with the Citizens and make the £45m summer switch to Chelsea in search of regular first-team football, and he has since made an excellent start to life under Mauricio Pochettino.
The 21-year-old picked up the Man of the Match award and scored a 95th-minute equaliser, coolly converting his fourth penalty kick of the season, to help Chelsea rescue a point against the reigning Premier League champions.
Thiago Silva and another ex-Citizens player Raheem Sterling were both on the scoresheet for Chelsea in between an Erling Haaland opener and a Manuel Akanji header as the two team teams entered the half-time interval all square at 2-2.
Haaland netted his second of the match less than two minutes into the second half before Nicolas Jackson restored parity, and Rodri then thought he has sealed all three points for Man City with a deflected strike four minutes from time, but Palmer ultimately had the last laugh, helping Chelsea come from behind for a third time to force both sides to share the spoils.
Palmer expressed mixed emotions after the match, telling Sky Sports: "Very strange, the first time I have played against City. I have the utmost respect for the club I spent 15 years at and it is nice to see some friends.
"I was excited before the game to see some familiar faces. Unlucky not to get the win, but it was a great game.
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"I waited a long time [to take my penalty], I've had a few of them now. I stayed calm. I'm not going to say I work on them because I don't. I work on my natural ability."
Asked if his late equaliser will have upset some of his friends and family who support Man City, Palmer added: "Yeah probably, I've got many City fans I know. But it's the game.
"It was amazing (to play against Man City), I was excited before the game to show what I can do and we went behind a few times and bounced back."
Discussing Palmer's impact since joining Chelsea, head coach Pochettino said: "He is a player that understands the game and used the half positions. He always gives the option to play and find the free man.
"He is a playmaker that links other things and makes the team look good. He is a player that arrived in the last moment and he his showing great character and performance.
"I thought before the game we needed to be careful to him to give time to improve and more experience, but he is improving every single game I am happy for him and the team."
The draw represents Chelsea's fourth of the season and they remain 10th in the Premier League table, 10 points behind the top four and 12 adrift of leaders Man City, who sit just one clear of second-placed Liverpool and third-placed Arsenal heading into the international break.
Oliver Thomas
