Mauricio Pochettino admits he cannot explain Cole Palmer's incredible Chelsea form after Blues talisman nets game-winning hat trick in dramatic Premier League win over Man Utd

Following boyhood Manchester United fan Palmer's hat-trick against the Red Devils on Thursday, Pochettino has spoken out about the 21-year-old's excellent performances since joining Chelsea from Manchester City last summer, saying "no one expected him to perform like this".

"It is difficult to explain," said Pochettino when asked about Palmer's form. "Sometimes expectation plays a role in a player when they are young. I think when we signed him, no one expected him to perform like this. For sure, we have talented players and they need time. We have a young team that needs to grow. This process is painful when you are not in a position the club is used to. The club want to build this new project. We know what we are doing but the process is not so fast."

Palmer made all the difference against the Red Devils, tucking away a confident penalty in the first half before dispatching a second spot kick and a dramatic winner in the dying moments of the game, after over 10 minutes of stoppage time. His hat-trick brings his goal tally for the season to 16, and he's also notched eight assists in the Premier League in 2023-24.

The games are coming thick and fast for Chelsea right now; their next fixture is a trip north to Sheffield United on Sunday 7 April, where they'll be expected to follow up Thursday's dramatic victory with another three points.