‘He was very outstanding during that match. He deserved the Man of the match more than Tosin and Tosin would also agree. He will be very vital in our match against Benfica’ – This is according to Cole Palmer as Chelsea star delivered a display versus ES Tunis that even earned applause from Cole Palmer.

 

Cole Palmer Applauds Tosin Adarabioyo’s Man-of-the-Match Display as Chelsea Cruise Past ES Tunis

Since his high-profile transfer from Manchester City to Chelsea in 2023, Cole Palmer has consistently delivered standout performances. However, during Chelsea’s dominant 3-0 victory over ES Tunis in the FIFA Club World Cup group stage, it was Palmer’s turn to shine a spotlight on a teammate—Tosin Adarabioyo.

With manager Enzo Maresca rotating his squad, the Blues comfortably secured a spot in the Round of 16, where they will now face Portuguese giants Benfica. Goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap—netting his first for the club—and Tyrique George sealed the win.

But it was Adarabioyo’s commanding display in defense that stole the headlines. The 27-year-old center-back opened the scoring with a thunderous header from an Enzo Fernandez free-kick and went on to dominate at the back, earning the Man of the Match award.

Cole Palmer, clearly impressed, was seen applauding enthusiastically as Adarabioyo collected his accolade—a moment that underlined the growing respect and unity within the Chelsea squad.

Though Adarabioyo didn’t feature in the starting XI during the UEFA Conference League final, his leadership was still felt from the sidelines, with journalists describing his support and tactical guidance as “inspiring.”

Against ES Tunis, Adarabioyo’s stats further highlighted his impact:

• Minutes played: 90

• Goals: 1

• Clearances: 4

• Tackles: 1

• Aerial duels won: 1

• Touches: 126

• Pass accuracy: 97% (116/120)

Despite facing a relatively modest opponent, Adarabioyo's performance strengthens his claim for a regular starting role—especially as Chelsea continue to monitor defensive reinforcements, including a potential move for Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomande.

As for Cole Palmer, the young midfielder is still searching for his first goal in the tournament and will be aiming to make his mark in Saturday’s knockout clash with Benfica. But for now, it’s Tosin Adarabioyo who rightfully basks in the spotlight—and the admiration of his teammates.