Cole Palmer has shared that there was light-hearted banter among his Chelsea teammates following a dispute over a penalty kick last night.
At just 21, Palmer netted an impressive four goals in Chelsea’s 6-0 victory over Everton at Stamford Bridge. His performance included a remarkable 16-minute perfect hat-trick in the first half, capped off with a penalty in the latter half.
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The penalty moment, however, sparked a brief on-field disagreement between Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke over who would take the shot.
The situation was quickly resolved when team captain Conor Gallagher stepped in, decisively returning the ball to Palmer, the team’s in-form striker, much to Jackson and Madueke’s chagrin.
In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Palmer, who has now tied with Erling Haaland at 20 league goals for the season, downplayed the incident. He assured that any tension was promptly addressed and settled behind the scenes in the dressing room.
He said: “Other players wanted to take it which is understandable [since] the game’s 4-0.
“But I’m the penalty taker and I wanted to take it and I took it. I think everyone just wants to take responsibility and stuff like that.
“Maybe it was a bit over the top, the argument and stuff, but everyone just wants to win and help. “It’s nothing major. We were laughing and joking about it but the gaffer has told us now.”
But Mauricio Pochettino took a less forgiving tone and warned his Chelsea players they were on thin ice.
He said: “I told the players [in the dressing room] we can’t behave in this way. I told them this is the last time I will accept this type of behaviour.
“They’re all involved in this situation, next time they’re all out. This is not a joke. It’s impossible after a performance like this to see this type of behaviour.
“If we want to be a great team, fighting for big things, we need to change and think more in a collective way.
“I made clear to them, and now through the media, and I say to our fans and to everyone, Cole Palmer is the penalty taker.
“And it’s now his choice if he wants to give the ball to another player but not in this way.
“It’s very sad and I don’t want it to happen again. We behaved like kids.”
