Supporters believe Manchester City subtly criticized ex-player Cole Palmer following Chelsea’s defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
Despite dominating much of the first half, Chelsea, based in west London, missed a significant chance to score via Palmer, thwarted by Caoimhin Kelleher.
- Enzo Fernandez has to be held back as he’s teased by fan after final defeat
- WATCH: Pochettino snubs Todd Boehly after Chelsea’s Carabao Cup final defeat
- Bukayo Saka ‘responds’ to Ferdinand’s claim that he isn’t world-class
The match saw both teams hitting the woodwork multiple times in a frenzied, back-and-forth encounter, with Palmer featuring prominently in a late goalmouth scramble ultimately thwarted by Liverpool.
Towards the end of the 90 minutes, Chelsea appeared to have an advantage over a youthful and injury-plagued Liverpool team, but they retreated during extra time, allowing Liverpool to regain control.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team suffered the consequences of their passive approach when Virgil van Dijk scored from a corner in the 118th minute, securing a 1-0 victory for Liverpool.
Shortly after the match ended, Manchester City posted a tweet on X, previously known as Twitter, causing a significant reaction.
This season, Cole Palmer, formerly of Etihad fame, has been dubbed ‘Cold Palmer’ due to his calmness and composure under pressure.
He’s even incorporated a celebratory gesture to complement his nickname, placing his hands under his armpits and mimicking shivering.
Thus, when City tweeted just as Palmer was receiving his runners-up medal, featuring three ‘freezing’ emojis alongside a photo of Phil Foden in a cryotherapy chamber, it sparked considerable controversy.
Adding to the pointedness, Foden had his hands tucked under his armpits—the same pose Palmer is known for, which he displayed when scoring against City from the spot at Stamford Bridge.
???????????? pic.twitter.com/n8XlHZc5LK
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 25, 2024
The tweet, whether intentional or merely coincidental, quickly went viral, amassing 2.8 million views, and was interpreted by numerous fans as a jab at Palmer.
While some Manchester City supporters lauded the account for “trolling” Palmer, others criticized it, suggesting it was inappropriate to target a player who had spent over a decade at the club, having initially joined at under-eight level.
‘Tolling your boy? Have some class,’ wrote The Peak Santi. Another added: ‘Trolling your own boy? Yeah you guys would never be rated among top clubs.’
Chelsea and Palmer have only a few days to recover before facing Leeds United in the FA Cup on Wednesday, while Manchester City will be away at Luton Town for their own fifth-round match.
