It’s never easy to adapt to Premier League football, even in these modern times when less of what we think as “traditional” (Burnley-esque) English football dominates The World’s Most Competitive League™. Even when you come from another top European league, there is at least an adjustment period, while many fail to make the grade.
In the case of Emerson Palmieri, matters were even more complicated, thanks to a lingering injury that slowed the process upon his arrival a season and a half ago. He did not feature much under Antonio Conte, nor Maurizio Sarri at first, but since the turn of the year, his minutes have slowly and steadily ticked up. Now he’s definitely feeling well adapted to a league that, in his experience, is quite different from what he came to known in Brazil and Italy at the start of his career.
“It is true that in these last few months I have played a lot more, but I already felt I am a player who is well adapted to English football.”
“There is a lot more intensity to the game here, both going forward and certainly in the defensive phase so, without having learned to be more intense as a player, you could not play in my role here in England. I feel I’m well adapted to that. Here, at times, the tactics are left behind, and it becomes about intensity and strength so, if you are that kind of player, it’s easier to adapt yourself to the game here.”
-Emerson; source: Goal
At the moment, Emerson looks quite happy with life at Chelsea. Earlier, when that maybe wasn’t quite the case, and he was not beating out Marcos Alonso for playing time, rumors had increasingly linked him with a return to the Serie A.
Those still persist, including from both Milanese clubs. Inter were rumored recently; now AC Milan have added him to their shortlist, too, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Emerson’s intention may or may not be to stay at Chelsea — probably the former, considering the excitement with which he talks about playing with the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Eden Hazard (for now), and Callum Hudson-Odoi — but they will be watching.
#Calciomercato #Milan, incontro per #Malcom. Ma senza la #Champions... https://t.co/Lzo2q9G2Uw pic.twitter.com/wDiIc5aZIe
— LaGazzettadelloSport (@Gazzetta_it) April 24, 2019