Cole Palmer: Chelsea captaincy was a 'long time coming'

""Long time coming," Palmer said of the decision by Liam Rosenior to make him skipper for the day. "It was a proud moment being captain. I enjoyed it and it was a good afternoon.""

""We needed to win. It was a difficult four games but to get to a semi-final at Wembley was very important.""

"Avoiding cup humiliation against the team bottom of the third tier brought huge relief for Rosenior after what he had called the most difficult 10 days of his career before the international break."

"There was also the pleasing sight of seven different goalscorers as the Blues set up a Wembley date at the end of the match."

Cole Palmer captained Chelsea for the first time in their FA Cup match against Port Vale, leading the team to a 7-0 victory. With Reece James injured and Enzo Fernández suspended, Palmer's leadership helped restore confidence after four consecutive losses. Early goals set the tone, and Chelsea's dominance was evident with seven different players scoring. The win secured a semi-final spot at Wembley, providing relief for manager Liam Rosenior after a challenging period for the club.

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