Mauricio Pochettino admits Chelsea players are relying on Cole Palmer to get them out of trouble

Mauricio Pochettino says Cole Palmer is a great example but hinted Chelsea rely on him a little too much.

Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City last summer, has been a bright spark in what’s been a tumultuous season for the Blues, who are currently 11th in the Premier League.

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Where would Chelsea be without Palmer this season?Credit: AFPHe’s their top scorer this season with his two goals against Burnley taking his tally to 16 for Chelsea, however, in a game that saw them labour to a 2-2 draw against the Premier League’s second-bottom side despite playing with a man advantage for the entirety of the second half.

Palmer scored a first-half penalty to break the deadlock then, after Burnley had levelled via Josh Cullen’s volley, looked to have won it with a finely taken finish into the corner with 12 minutes to play.

But Chelsea were immediately undone by a header from a corner from defender Dara O’Shea as Vincent Kompany’s side rescued an unlikely point and doomed home fans to another frustrating result.

Few players have lived up to Palmer’s example this season, with Saturday’s meek surrender after twice taking the lead a prime case study in a campaign that has gone badly awry.

READ MORE ON CHELSEA”He’s a good example for the rest,” said Pochettino.

“From day one he has taken responsibility. When the team struggle to find solutions, they give the ball to him.

“It’s a dream (to have him). He brings very positive things for the team. And for him to have the possibility to play games he didn’t play in the last year for Manchester City.

“Now he has the continuity and consistency, he’s showing the capacity that we thought he could add to the team.”

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Palmer has 16 goals for Chelsea this season, 13 of them in the Premier LeagueCredit: GettyChelsea looked to have the game firmly under control when Clarets defender Lorenz Assignon was red carded for fouling Mykhailo Mudryk just before half-time, conceding the penalty from which Palmer scored with an impudent Panenka chip.

But despite peppering the visitors’ goal with 33 shots they failed to stymie Burnley’s threat and never really looking comfortable when out of possession.

That they extended their unbeaten league run to five games, their longest in almost 18 months, was of little consolation to supporters at the final whilst – nor, thinks Pochettino, to Palmer.

“It’s a collective,” he said. “He cannot be happy (after a result like this). He is disappointed.”