A 6-0 victory for Chelsea, including a remarkable four-goal performance by star player Cole Palmer, should have left manager Mauricio Pochettino with no concerns. However, the Argentine coach took his team to task for an incident during the match—a dispute over who would take a penalty kick in the second half. With Chelsea already leading 4-0 against Everton at Stamford Bridge, the penalty situation unfolded.
Captain Conor Gallagher stepped in to defuse the tension as Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke squabbled over the ball after the latter was brought down in the box. Gallagher secured the ball and handed it to Palmer, the designated penalty taker. Pochettino expressed his frustration after the game, emphasizing the importance of discipline within the team.
“The players and staff know that Cole Palmer is the penalty taker,” Pochettino stated. “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.”
“We can’t show that type of behavior,” 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.”
