Chelsea players caused a stir at their match against Everton when they did not agree on who would take a penalty kick.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has slammed Nicholas Jackson and Noni Madueke for fighting each other in a bid to take a penalty against Everton.
Captain Conor Gallagher had to intervene to shove away Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke as they squabbled for the ball after the latter was brought down in the box.
After the intervention, Gallagher got the ball and gave it to Palmer, the club’s designated penalty taker.
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“The players and staff know that Cole Palmer is the penalty taker,” said a furious Pochettino after the game. “I am so, so upset about the situation. Discipline is the most important thing in our team.
“We all agree they [Jackson and Madueke] were wrong. They are not experienced players. They are young. It was very good the reaction by Conor Gallagher [to diffuse things].”
“We can’t show that type of behaviour,” he continued. “It’s like we are in a school, and our job is to show them they were wrong so they can learn. There will be no punishment, but this can’t happen again. If Palmer is on the pitch, he is the penalty taker.”
The manager also apologized for the bad image it brought to the club. After the scuffle, Palmer slotted home his fourth of the night to make it 5-0 and move alongside Manchester City’s Erling Haaland at the top of the Premier League scoring charts with 20.
The goal also brought Palmer’s tally in all competitions to 23 as he became the first Chelsea player to reach 20 since Eden Hazard in 2018-19.
“He was a player always with the capacity to score when at Manchester City, but I think the way he has adapted himself is fantastic,” Pochettino said of Palmer.
“He is amazing for the team, for him, and he is showing that the club made the right decision in signing him.
“Overall, I am happy with the performance. We showed a different approach than against Sheffield United [a 2-2 draw last Sunday]. We improved in different areas, and today was the perfect game.”
