It’s been another tough season for Chelsea, but Monday’s 6-0 win over Everton was a cathartic moment of celebration for the former Premier League powerhouse.
Well, at least it should have been.
While Cole Palmer stole the headlines with a four-goal display, his final goal was also a major talking point — and not in a good way for Chelsea.
Already up 4-0, Chelsea won a second-half penalty kick. Palmer, the team’s usual penalty taker, went to grab the ball but was engulfed in an intra-team squabble involving Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke.
Madueke grabbed the ball initially before it was forcefully removed by captain Conor Gallagher and given to Palmer. For some reason, Jackson decided to use that moment to try and snag the ball himself before he was shoved away by Palmer.
Not a great look!
Chelsea players had a heated exchange over who would take this penalty kick. They were winning 4-0 at the time. 👀 pic.twitter.com/Gh6wg5cEvQ
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 15, 2024
Palmer would convert to make it 5-0, with Madueke forcing Jackson to go over and celebrate with the team following the goal.
With the made penalty, Palmer moved to a perfect nine-for-nine from the spot this season.
Here’s another clip: Jackson walks away from Palmer, Madueke grabs him and tells him that they should go celebrate with the team and they do so pic.twitter.com/3GpCEEfXPU https://t.co/2PwPZBOwyz
— frankirbydaily (@frankirbydaily) April 16, 2024
Naturally, head coach Mauricio Pochettino was furious after the game.
“The players and staff know that Cole Palmer is the penalty taker,” Pochettino said. “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 defuse things].”
“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.”
https://t.co/G5LIVzvuJ1 pic.twitter.com/b3e3bQVNwP
— xlv 🇵🇸 (@shadadzai) April 15, 2024
Even with the win, Chelsea only moved up to ninth place in the Premier League table. Once a formidable European force, Chelsea managed to demonstrate how it has fallen so far even while securing its largest win of the season.
[lawrence-related id=61468,29340,57827]