Chelsea boss hits back at Cole Palmer criticism - 'It's been difficult'

Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane has hit back at criticism of Cole Palmer , who he insists isn't having a poor season. Palmer, 23, has endured a stop-start campaign thanks to injury , scoring just five goals from open play in 29 games. The ex-Manchester City star's form has seen his place in the England squad come into question ahead of the World Cup , although he did feature for Thomas Tuchel's side during the international break. Palmer has also had three different managers this season, with both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior being sacked within four months of each other. Now McFarlane is in charge for Chelsea's last four Premier League games of the season and the FA Cup final later this month. The Chelsea boss coached Palmer in City's academy and doesn't agree with the 'narrative' that he isn't playing well. "In my first season at City, Cole was in the under-21s," McFarlane recalled ahead of Monday's clash with Nottingham Forest . "He was literally just on the brink of breaking into the first-team. WORLD CUP LEGENDS: The stars who lit up football's greatest tournament - Buy the Special Edition today "So, I hadn't worked with Cole previously, other than watching him dominate under-21s football and then break into the first-team. It's been a difficult period for Cole. He's had his first injury that he's pretty much ever had in his career, and he's had to learn how to deal with that. "I don't agree with the narrative that he isn't playing well. I think there are games where he can impact more. But there's also been a lot of occasions where he's created a lot of good chances for players. He can't control whether that's finished [off], he can just put the ball in the position that he needs it to be. "I do think he's had some really good games in the last three months, and it's just a case of building that consistency. So, I'm really pleased with Cole. He shows us his talent every single day, his energy and his enthusiasm to play." Is Cole Palmer having a bad season? Have your say in the comments section . Palmer's struggles coupled with Chelsea's managerial merry-go-round has increased speculation that he could leave Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window . But the playmaker, contracted until 2033, recently poured cold water on links to Manchester United . "Everyone just talks," Palmer told the Guardian . "When I see it, I just laugh." He added: "I've got no plans to move from Chelsea. We've still got a lot to play for. We've got the FA Cup and if we finish in a Champions League spot, it puts us in a good position to sign players that we need." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us - and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're cu rious, you can read our Privacy Notice .