Cole Palmer has played down the penalty row that overshadowed Chelsea’s thumping 6-0 win over Everton, insisting the players were “laughing and joking” about the incident afterwards.
An otherwise excellent night for the Blues in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Monday was marred by a squabble that preceded a 64th-minute penalty awarded for quick-fire fouls on Palmer and Madueke, who wanted to take the spot-kick.
A row between Madueke and Nicolas Jackson then ensued, with man-of-the-match Palmer – Chelsea’s hat-trick hero and highly successful designated penalty taker this season – then weighing in after dusting himself down.
It took stand-in captain Conor Gallagher to eventually intervene and restore order, with Palmer confidently dispatching his effort to register a fourth goal of the night that took him level with Erling Haaland atop of the Golden Boot standings with 20 for the season in 28 appearances.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Reaction
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino had a furious reaction to the spat, saying he would not tolerate such behavior in the future. “I am going to be very strong if something like this happens again,” he said. “I was telling them, and I promise this is not going to happen again. It is the type of process that we need to learn when you have a young squad that sometimes the personal aims are in front of the collective.”
Palmer’s Perspective
However, Palmer himself shrugged off the argument, describing it as “nothing major” and a sign that all of Chelsea’s players want to take responsibility as he insisted everything was light-hearted in the dressing room afterwards.
“Other players wanted to take it, which is understandable with the game at 4-0,” the England international told Sky Sports. “But I’m the penalty taker, and I wanted to take it, so in the end, I took it.
“I think we are just trying to show everyone that everyone wants to take responsibility and stuff like that. Maybe it was a bit over the top with the arguing and stuff, but everyone wants to win, help, and stuff, so it is nothing major.
“We were laughing and joking about it. The gaffer has told us now.”
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
