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Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates one of his four goals with Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke in the Premier League match against Everton at Stamford Bridge, London on April 15, 2024. Picture: TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS
London — Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino should have been beaming after his team destroyed Everton 6-0 on Monday but rather than celebrating Cole Palmer’s remarkable four-goal display he instead fumed about his players arguing on the pitch.
Chelsea were leading 4-0 after Palmer’s first-half hat-trick and a goal for Nicolas Jackson when they were awarded a penalty after Noni Madueke was tripped in the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.
Madueke and Jackson then wrestled each other for the ball as the referee awaited a VAR confirmation, with regular taker Palmer standing bemused alongside them.
Eventually, captain Conor Gallagher had to intervene to shove the pair away, grab the ball and give it to Palmer, who duly dispatched it to make it nine out of nine from the spot in the Premier League.
“The players know that the taker is Palmer. I am so, so upset about the situation,” Pochettino said. “The image we sent to every single country watching — I want to apologise.
“You cannot behave like this and to have to talk about it after such an unbelievable game is a shame. Players need to show they are hungry to score but not in this type of situation. I won’t accept this again. I promise that.”
Pochettino praised Gallagher for his intervention and left the players involved in no doubt that they were on thin ice.
“Sometimes for young players, the personal things are ahead of the team but they need to know they need to perform for the team and learn quickly,” he said. “These are the type of things we take into account for next season. If they don’t learn then yes, we’ll make some decisions. When you ask me about why we have no consistency or are not performing sometimes it is because of the standards and they need to learn quickly because the demand is so high.”
When he did eventually get around to discussing Palmer, the Argentine seemed to feel that the midfielder’s incredible night, and season, was almost to be expected.
“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,” he said as Palmer moved alongside Erling Haaland at the top of the Premier League scoring charts on 20.
“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, we improved in different areas and today was the perfect game.”
Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw at bottom club Sheffield United on Sunday after conceding a goal in added time.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Chelsea manager fumes over penalty-taker mayhem
London — Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino should have been beaming after his team destroyed Everton 6-0 on Monday but rather than celebrating Cole Palmer’s remarkable four-goal display he instead fumed about his players arguing on the pitch.
Chelsea were leading 4-0 after Palmer’s first-half hat-trick and a goal for Nicolas Jackson when they were awarded a penalty after Noni Madueke was tripped in the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.
Madueke and Jackson then wrestled each other for the ball as the referee awaited a VAR confirmation, with regular taker Palmer standing bemused alongside them.
Eventually, captain Conor Gallagher had to intervene to shove the pair away, grab the ball and give it to Palmer, who duly dispatched it to make it nine out of nine from the spot in the Premier League.
“The players know that the taker is Palmer. I am so, so upset about the situation,” Pochettino said. “The image we sent to every single country watching — I want to apologise.
“You cannot behave like this and to have to talk about it after such an unbelievable game is a shame. Players need to show they are hungry to score but not in this type of situation. I won’t accept this again. I promise that.”
Pochettino praised Gallagher for his intervention and left the players involved in no doubt that they were on thin ice.
“Sometimes for young players, the personal things are ahead of the team but they need to know they need to perform for the team and learn quickly,” he said. “These are the type of things we take into account for next season. If they don’t learn then yes, we’ll make some decisions. When you ask me about why we have no consistency or are not performing sometimes it is because of the standards and they need to learn quickly because the demand is so high.”
When he did eventually get around to discussing Palmer, the Argentine seemed to feel that the midfielder’s incredible night, and season, was almost to be expected.
“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,” he said as Palmer moved alongside Erling Haaland at the top of the Premier League scoring charts on 20.
“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, we improved in different areas and today was the perfect game.”
Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw at bottom club Sheffield United on Sunday after conceding a goal in added time.
Reuters
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