Chelsea star Cole Palmer sends clear message to Todd Boehly after Brighton win

Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer said he and his team-mates 'love' Mauricio Pochettino in a public show of support after Wednesday night's 2-1 win over Brighton. Blues co-owner Todd Boehly is set to sit down with Pochettino once the season concludes for talks over whether the Argentine will continue as manager.

Palmer has been a constant threat for Chelsea this campaign, and his first-half header at the Amex Stadium took him to 22 Premier League goals in 2023/24, equalling Frank Lampard's best individual season.

Christopher Nkunku added a second after the break with a well-taken finish. And although a slight dampener was put on the evening by Reece James' straight red card and Danny Welbeck's late consolation, Chelsea still clinched three important points, putting them on the cusp of a top-six finish.

The Londoners only need a point at home to Bournemouth this Sunday to make sure of Europa League qualification, with a superb run of four consecutive victories easing the pressure on Pochettino.

The former Tottenham boss seemed to be hanging by a thread at times this season, but finishing strongly has evidently won him the support of the dressing room. "All credit to the manager," Palmer said after the game. "All the players love the manager and want to fight for him."

With Chelsea taking a clear step forward and Palmer publicly showing support for Pochettino, Boehly has been given food for thought as he weighs up whether to make a change in the dugout.

Pochettino himself was full of praise for his players' performance against the Seagulls. "The approach of the game, facing a team that plays well like Brighton, it's a massive credit to our players," he told the BBC. "I'm so happy and the three points puts us in a very good position in the table to attack the last game against Bournemouth for the possibility to be in Europe.

"Brighton is a very good team and it's always difficult to play here. We have improved results and performances. We talked about patience and when you need to build something you need time but it always looks like an excuse at a big club. We have kept working and being positive and to finish in a good way would be good for the club."

The return of Nkunku, who has spent most of his debut season out injured, could provide Pochettino with a platform to kick on again next term.

Following his smart finish on the south coast, the Frenchman has notched three goals in only 411 minutes of Premier League action, which may play into Boehly's thinking when deciding whether to pursue an attacker in the summer transfer window.