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Chelsea star left in tears by goal against Crystal Palace
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace certainly isn’t London’s fiercest rivalry, but for one player it’s by far the most emotional. The Blues and the Eagles face off in their Premier League opener at Stamford Bridge on Saturday at 3pm, and lining up at the back for the home side will be someone familiar to both teams. Chalobah is very likely to start against Palace after his role in Chelsea’s trophy successes last seasonGetty His first meeting against the Eagles quite literally ended in tearsGetty Trevoh Chalobah will almost certainly start for Chelsea given their recent injury struggles, and he’ll be playing against a side he started last season with until a dramatic recall. But it won’t be that dramatic trip from south to west London that provokes some fond memories for the 26-year-old, but instead the first time he met the Eagles. Born in Sierra Leone, Chalobah’s family made their way over to England when he was aged just two, and remarkably both he and his brother Nathaniel both went on to earn caps for the Three Lions. Trevoh’s first came just this year, but it was back in 2021 when he truly became the focus of the England senior team. Joining Chelsea aged just eight, Chalobah had loan spells at Ipswich, Huddersfield and Lorient from 2018 to 2021 and he may have feared his chances of playing for his boyhood club weren’t increasing. Yet, much like in this 2025/26 season, on matchday one in the 2021/22 campaign, Chalobah finally got his chance, and it was also against Palace. The Blues cruised to a 2-0 first half lead through Marcos Alonso and Christian Pulisic, so when the second half rolled around the Stamford Bridge crowd could start having even more fun. In the 58th minute Chalobah picked the ball up in the middle of the Palace half with no one around him, and when the home crowd bellowed out ‘SHOOT!’ he duly obliged. Finding the bottom corner from range on debut, the centre back almost looked in pain, quickly raising his hands to the air before collapsing on the floor. Later explaining what went on, he said: “When I scored, I didn’t know what to do. I dropped to my knees. I was crying. Chalobah took the advice of his fellow Chelsea fansGetty The defender needed helping back up by his teammatesGetty “I couldn’t believe it when the ball went in. I didn’t know it went in until the crowd cheered. It was a surreal moment. “I’m lost for words, it’s been an amazing week for me. I’ve been at this club since I was eight. “Playing at Stamford Bridge where I have been watching a lot of games, being a ball boy, watching games with my family… finally playing here is amazing.” Commentating at the time, fellow former England defender Matt Upson was just as shocked as anyone by Chalobah’s emotional reaction to his goal. “It almost looked like a scared reaction, like one of horror. It was fantastic, it was real,” he said. “His team-mates picked him off the floor like something disastrous had happened. No Trevoh, you’ve scored a goal. He was overcome with emotion.” Tuchel loved what he sawGetty Summing up one of the feel good moments of the season in just the first week, talkSPORT commentator Adrian Durham was just as overawed by the moment.. “I am so, so happy that this place is full of Chelsea fans for that goal from a true Chelsea boy,” he said. “He’s got blue blood in his veins. When that ball hit the back of the net, it came after the fans had been pleading with him to shoot from 30 yards out. “And he must’ve listened to them because he wouldn’t have had a go unless they shouted. “The place erupted. What a noise from the Chelsea fans. He just sunk to his knees because the emotion was too much for him. “It’s a privilege to witness something like that.” View Tweet: https://t.co/FqDJhRM77I Chalobah’s manager at the time, Thomas Tuchel, relied on his new academy star for the remainder of the season, and was also the man to give him his chance with the England national team. “He has forced his way into my thinking,” the Champions League winner said at the time. “Trevoh is the very first in training and he is physically strong. He deserved to play because of his performances so far. “It was again quite impressive, so he forced his way into our thinking. Let’s see where he goes. “He gets all the praise and it’s well deserved. He’s had two excellent matches. It’s fantastic these things happen in sport. A perfect day for him. “This is what everyone loves about football – a mix of famous players from abroad and quality players from the academy.” Chalobah has earned his first England cap and is looking for another rise up the ranks this seasonGetty The match made in heaven continued for the following two seasons, and although Enzo Maresca sent him away on loan to start the previous campaign, another opening match full of emotion could be exactly what Chalobah needs to become a regular for his club once more.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace certainly isn’t London’s fiercest rivalry, but for one player it’s by far the most emotional.
The Blues and the Eagles face off in their Premier League opener at Stamford Bridge on Saturday at 3pm, and lining up at the back for the home side will be someone familiar to both teams.
Trevoh Chalobah will almost certainly start for Chelsea given their recent injury struggles, and he’ll be playing against a side he started last season with until a dramatic recall.
But it won’t be that dramatic trip from south to west London that provokes some fond memories for the 26-year-old, but instead the first time he met the Eagles.
Born in Sierra Leone, Chalobah’s family made their way over to England when he was aged just two, and remarkably both he and his brother Nathaniel both went on to earn caps for the Three Lions.
Trevoh’s first came just this year, but it was back in 2021 when he truly became the focus of the England senior team.
Joining Chelsea aged just eight, Chalobah had loan spells at Ipswich, Huddersfield and Lorient from 2018 to 2021 and he may have feared his chances of playing for his boyhood club weren’t increasing.
Yet, much like in this 2025/26 season, on matchday one in the 2021/22 campaign, Chalobah finally got his chance, and it was also against Palace.
The Blues cruised to a 2-0 first half lead through Marcos Alonso and Christian Pulisic, so when the second half rolled around the Stamford Bridge crowd could start having even more fun.
In the 58th minute Chalobah picked the ball up in the middle of the Palace half with no one around him, and when the home crowd bellowed out ‘SHOOT!’ he duly obliged.
Finding the bottom corner from range on debut, the centre back almost looked in pain, quickly raising his hands to the air before collapsing on the floor.
Later explaining what went on, he said: “When I scored, I didn’t know what to do. I dropped to my knees. I was crying.
“I couldn’t believe it when the ball went in. I didn’t know it went in until the crowd cheered. It was a surreal moment.
“I’m lost for words, it’s been an amazing week for me. I’ve been at this club since I was eight.
“Playing at Stamford Bridge where I have been watching a lot of games, being a ball boy, watching games with my family… finally playing here is amazing.”
Commentating at the time, fellow former England defender Matt Upson was just as shocked as anyone by Chalobah’s emotional reaction to his goal.
“It almost looked like a scared reaction, like one of horror. It was fantastic, it was real,” he said.
“His team-mates picked him off the floor like something disastrous had happened. No Trevoh, you’ve scored a goal. He was overcome with emotion.”
Summing up one of the feel good moments of the season in just the first week, talkSPORT commentator Adrian Durham was just as overawed by the moment..
“I am so, so happy that this place is full of Chelsea fans for that goal from a true Chelsea boy,” he said.
“He’s got blue blood in his veins. When that ball hit the back of the net, it came after the fans had been pleading with him to shoot from 30 yards out.
“And he must’ve listened to them because he wouldn’t have had a go unless they shouted.
“The place erupted. What a noise from the Chelsea fans. He just sunk to his knees because the emotion was too much for him.
“It’s a privilege to witness something like that.”
Chalobah’s manager at the time, Thomas Tuchel, relied on his new academy star for the remainder of the season, and was also the man to give him his chance with the England national team.
“He has forced his way into my thinking,” the Champions League winner said at the time.
“Trevoh is the very first in training and he is physically strong. He deserved to play because of his performances so far.
“It was again quite impressive, so he forced his way into our thinking. Let’s see where he goes.
“He gets all the praise and it’s well deserved. He’s had two excellent matches. It’s fantastic these things happen in sport. A perfect day for him.
“This is what everyone loves about football – a mix of famous players from abroad and quality players from the academy.”
The match made in heaven continued for the following two seasons, and although Enzo Maresca sent him away on loan to start the previous campaign, another opening match full of emotion could be exactly what Chalobah needs to become a regular for his club once more.
