What Cole Palmer did in Chelsea hotel lobby as £115m double transfer deal speaks volumes

While there was enormous uncertainty in the air for almost two hours on Saturday evening, for the most part, it was a mindset Chelsea were unwilling to adopt.

"As I said, the game was very good for 85 minutes. Then we had an hour and a half, two-hour stop," an uncharacteristically furious Enzo Maresca explained to reporters moments after the final whistle in Charlotte.

"Then it started completely different. It's not the same game. It's not the same game because you break the tempo. So two hours inside; people speak with the family outside, if they were good, the security. People eating, people laughing, people talking on the mobile. It's two hours. That's why I said it's not football.

READ MORE: The five players waving goodbye to Chelsea today as Enzo Maresca transfer plans take shape

READ MORE: Chelsea 'rejected' by striker target as goalkeeper battle emerges

"It's something that you struggle to understand. But we tried to go out, continue in the same way, knowing that it was difficult. It's not random that for 85 minutes, we didn't concede nothing. And then for five minutes, we conceded a few chances. Why? It's because it started a completely different game. It's not normal. It's not football."

A thunderstorm completely changed the night in Charlotte. It started off sunny at the Bank of America Stadium, but in almost end-of-the-world fashion, the area turned extremely dark all of the sudden. A couple of flashes and rumbles left a few in the press box wondering whether there would be a stoppage in play.

Indeed there was - and for Chelsea, it could not have come at a worse time. There were just four minutes of normal time left to run, and with the Blues 1-0 up and completely in control, the players just wanted to finish the job. However, that was not an option.

A two-hour delay then occurred with Maresca then tasked with keeping his players focused and ready to go again - whenever they were given the green light. The players took the time to use the exercise bikes in order to keep their muscles warm, while also speaking to the family members that were in attendance in Charlotte.

There was understandable frustration inside the Chelsea dressing room, with the players and staff keen to book their place in Friday's quarter-final. The mood around five hours before could not have been any different. Inside the Sheraton Hotel in Charlotte, where the Blues squad were staying while in Pennsylvania, the players appeared to be very chilled ahead of the Benfica game.

Cole Palmer is the superstar within the Chelsea squad - there is no doubt about that - and that was epitomised when a young Blues supporter was standing in the hotel lobby waiting for the England international to walk past so she could get a picture with him. Virtually every other Chelsea player in the 28-man squad walked past her but she was only interested in Palmer.

Palmer never seems to have a problem stopping for his fans. He took the time to have a brief chat with the girl and her father before taking a selfie with them both. A special and unforgettable moment for that young girl, while Palmer trotted off for his pre-match meal.

This was all happening as whispers were starting to grow around Jamie Gittens. We of course knew Chelsea were closing in on signing the 20-year-old winger and talks were ongoing. There was an indication a deal had been agreed, though, and while confirmation was being chased, it was actually in the shuttle bus on the way to the Bank of America Stadium where it was safe to report that a deal had been agreed.

Gittens will sign a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge with the fee understood to be in the region of £55million (including add-ons). Less than 24 hours later, in true Chelsea fashion, another deal was secured. This one has been less on the cards, so to speak, as the Gittens one but it has always been a possibility.

Chelsea struck an agreement with Brighton for the sale of Joao Pedro - understood to be in the same region price-wise as the Gittens deal. The Seagulls gave Pedro permission to fly from his homeland Brazil to the United States on Sunday with the 23-year-old forward set to undergo his medical in Miami, where Chelsea are based until Thursday when they will fly to Philadelphia.

Pedro is the versatile attacking option Chelsea have been chasing this summer. Other options were also looked at, including Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus, but Pedro emerged as the priority for the Blues. It means, with the additions of Gittens, Pedro and Liam Delap, Chelsea have addressed three key attacking areas already and we are not even in July yet.