Cole Palmer described his first Chelsea captaincy as a 'long time coming' after leading the Blues to a dominant 7-0 FA Cup victory over Port Vale at Stamford Bridge. With Reece James sidelined by a hamstring injury and Enzo Fernández suspended internally, Palmer took the armband as Chelsea cruised into the semifinals.

The emphatic win brought relief to Liam Rosenior's side following a turbulent period that included four straight defeats and Fernández's controversial flirtation with Real Madrid during the international break. Palmer's leadership helped Chelsea avoid potential cup embarrassment against the League One strugglers, with goals from seven different players highlighting their depth.

For Palmer, the captaincy represented both personal pride and team necessity. 'It was a proud moment being captain,' he said after the match. 'We needed to win. It was a difficult four games but to get to a semi-final at Wembley was very important.' The victory sets up a Wembley date for Chelsea at the end of April, providing momentum ahead of their crucial Premier League clash against Manchester City.