The players’ arguments about who would get a penalty during Chelsea’s excellent 6-0 victory against Everton were described by manager Mauricio Pochettino as a “sad situation.”
When the argument over who should take the penalty erupted, Cole Palmer emerged victorious and scored his fourth goal of the Premier League match on Monday.
Palmer, the usual penalty taker for Chelsea, agreed, as did Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke, that they ought to shoulder some of the blame. The three engaged in a brief scuffle until captain Conor Gallagher snatched the ball from Madueke and gave it to Palmer.
The striker then gave Chelsea a 5-0 lead at Stamford Bridge by coolly rolling the ball into the bottom-left corner.
It saddens me because I believe that we are not capable of acting in this manner. Following the game, Pochettino discussed the issue with Sky Sports. “I told them that this is the last time that I accept this type of behavior,” he said.
“I made clear that Cole Palmer is the taker to them and now to the fans and to everyone through you,” he continued.
Palmer is then free to pass the ball to another player, but not in this manner. What transpired was a very, very terrible circumstance, and I refuse to allow it to occur again.
Palmer, 21, who now shares the top scorer in the Premier League with 20 goals this year, played down the problem.
He said to Sky Sports, “I’m the penalty taker and I wanted to take it so in the end I took it.” However, I believe that our main goal is to demonstrate that everyone wants to accept responsibility and other such things.
“Maybe the argument and other things were a little too much, but everyone just wants to win and help; it’s nothing serious.” We were making jokes and laughing about it.
In the first half, the England international scored a flawless hat-trick against Everton. His first goal came from the left side of the area with his left foot, his second was a header from close range, and his third was an incredible long-range right-footed lob after Jordan Pickford, the Everton goalkeeper, made a terrible mistake.
Palmer’s penalty kick, his tenth of the season, completed an incredible individual display after Jackson’s well-taken strike just before the half ended gave Chelsea a dominating 4-0 lead.
Alfie Gilchrist, a defender for Chelsea, scored his first goal late in the one-sided match to seal a decisive victory for the home team. With three games remaining, Chelsea’s victory keeps them in ninth place in the Premier League standings, although they are only three points behind West Ham, Newcastle, and Manchester United.
Everton, on the other hand, is only two points clear of the relegation zone as a result of two different point reductions this season for financial rule violations.
Next up on Sunday is a crucial Premier League matchup at home against Nottingham Forest, who are now one spot below Everton; on Saturday, Chelsea takes on Manchester City in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
