Chelsea’s season so far has been nothing short of fantastic; their resurgence under Enzo Maresca has been one of the highlights of the Premier League so far.
With their latest triumph, a commanding 2-0 victory over Brentford, the Blues have now strung together five consecutive wins, catapulting themselves to second place in the Premier League table, capitalizing on Man City’s poor form. Maresca’s tactical acumen along with having few key players in every matchday squad are two things that have been pivotal in this turnaround.
Among those leading the charge is Cole Palmer, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder who has become an indispensable part of Chelsea’s league campaign.
While Palmer’s on-field brilliance is evident, his camaraderie with teammate Jadon Sancho can also be seen both on and off the pitch.
The duo, who share a history from their Manchester City youth days, have shown support for each other since reuniting at Stamford Bridge.
Sancho, on loan from Manchester United has had a solid start to his Chelsea career scoring 2 and assisting 5 across all competitions. A positive start to life at Chelsea was needed for Sancho after struggling to find his feet at United.
What might have played a part in this good form for Sancho is Palmer being a source of encouragement which can be highlighted by his cryptic but recurring “1%” message to Sancho.
The origins of Palmer’s 1% message can be traced back to November 28, when Chelsea faced Heidenheim in the Europa Conference League. Sancho delivered a standout performance, assisting both goals in a 2-0 victory.
It marked a significant milestone for the winger, who was making his first European start for Chelsea. While Palmer wasn’t part of the matchday squad—Maresca has strategically excluded him from European competition to manage his minutes—the 22-year-old watched from the sidelines and later commented “1%” on Sancho’s celebratory Instagram post.
And after Chelsea’s win over Brentford, we saw the “1%” comment resurface.
Palmer posted a picture with Sancho on his Instagram story, accompanied by the same “1%” caption. Users over on X tried to decode what this meant and also cracked a few jokes on what Palmer was trying to convey.
The “1%” message, as Palmer has subtly conveyed, symbolizes growth, perseverance, and that there’s always room to work harder and improve. It’s a nod to the idea that even small incremental gains—just 1% more effort, focus, or improvement—can lead to monumental changes over time.
For Sancho, who has faced criticism and challenges in his career, this message for sure serves as a reminder to keep pushing and to know that his teammates have his back.
Palmer’s public displays of support for Sancho haven’t been limited to the Heidenheim and the “1%” comment. After Chelsea’s thrilling 4-2 win over Brighton, in which Sancho won a penalty and provided an assist, Palmer was quick to praise his teammate. Commenting on Sancho’s Instagram post, he wrote, “My boy!”—another testament to their close relationship.
Italian Maresca’s philosophies seem to be in full flow for the Blues and the results show the work as well. His two squad system does wonders in giving everyone opportunities and there’s an upbeat atmosphere amongst the squad which can be seen through the camarederie Sancho and Palmer share.
