Cole Palmer said he “has more freedom to drift” under Xabi Alonso. Referring to his goal against Fulham, he said he “wouldn’t have even made that run” last season under Enzo Maresca because that area wouldn’t have been a “safe zone” for his position.

Cole Palmer, speaking to Sky Sports:

Palmer: “We had Maresca and Liam playing similar formations, building up with a 3-2 and whatever they all do. But this is different.”

Interviewer: “Do you prefer it? Do you like playing in that front three? It seems like you guys especially have a lot of freedom to create and be yourselves out there.”

Palmer: “You just have more freedom drifting about the pitch. Like you could see last night with the goal I scored. Last season, I wouldn’t have even made that run because it was just, ‘Stay in my zone,’ if you know what I mean. But he’s saying, ‘Move across that zone, drop to play, come get on the ball, create, and just do what you do.’”

I find the concept of a “safe zone” completely ridiculous. It’s obviously limiting. It hurts the game of football.

When an attacking player runs downfield, their first thought should be “How can I contribute and combine?” It should not be “Where does the coach expect me not to be?”

Players like Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Jack Grealish, Rico Lewis, and Nico O’Reilly should not be put in “safe zones.”

They need the freedom to gravitate towards the ball. If you stick them in “safe zones,” they will always be isolated. Some players are more effective when they can combine in tight spaces.

It makes me sick to think that Barcelona team of old could have had a manager that was that extreme.