‘Shame’ of penalty pantomime overshadows Chelsea’s big win
LONDON — Mauricio Pochettino said on Monday he will not accept seeing his players squabble over penalty duties after his biggest win as Chelsea boss was marred by teammates fighting with each other to take a spot-kick.
Cole Palmer eventually took responsibility to score his fourth goal in a 6-0 rout of Everton to move the Blues to within three points of the Premier League’s top six.
However, a night to savor for Pochettino was soured by Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson having to be forcibly removed by captain Conor Gallagher to allow Palmer to continue his perfect record from the spot this season.
“It’s a shame,” said Pochettino. “I was telling the players, we had a meeting with all the staff, I think we cannot behave in this way.
“I told them this is the last time I will accept this type of behavior.
“It’s impossible, after a performance like this, to show this kind of behavior.
“If we want to be a big team, fighting for big things, we have to think more of the collective. I won’t accept this happening again.”
Palmer’s ninth successful penalty of the campaign, which came with the score at 4-0, took him level with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland in the battle to win the Golden Boot, with both on 20 goals.
Raheem Sterling pulled rank on his former City teammate when he missed a penalty in Chelsea’s FA Cup quarterfinal win over Leicester last month.
Palmer was adamant he will remain on spot-kicks, but tried to play down the significance of the incident.
“Other players wanted to take it, but I am the penalty taker and I wanted to take it,” said Palmer.
“I think it shows that everyone is wanting to take responsibility. It may be a bit over the top, but everyone wants to win — we are laughing and joking about it.”
Despite an eight-game unbeaten Premier League run, Chelsea remains in ninth place, but is now just three points adrift of sixthplaced Newcastle with a game in hand to come.
It will head into Saturday’s FA Cup semifinal against City confident it can end the defending Champion’s quest for a second consecutive treble.
“The most important thing now is to build a team which is consistent,” added Pochettino.
“We were not consistent enough. We need to learn, and learn quickly.”
A demoralizing defeat, the result leaves Everton still perilously placed just two points above the relegation zone.
Nottingham Forest visits Goodison Park on Sunday for what will be a huge relegation clash, and Sean Dyche’s men will need to improve at both ends of the field to prolong their 70-year stay in the top flight.
“It’s the most embarrassed I’ve felt as an individual and part of a team in my time in football,” said Everton defender James Tarkowski.
The visitors were dealt a blow before kick-off when Dominic Calvert-Lewin bowed out due to a hamstring injury.
His deputy, Beto, spurned a glorious chance to open the scoring when he somehow turned Seamus Coleman’s cross over the bar from point-blank range.
Palmer was not so forgiving at the other end, as he made another case to be crowned the Premier League’s player of the year.
City must regret letting the 21-year-old leave for what now looks like a bargain 40 million ($50 million) in September.
Palmer nutmegged Jarrad Branthwaite, before exchanging a neat one-two with Jackson and curling home from the edge of the box to open the scoring.
With Enzo Fernandez absent due to injury, Pochettino flanked Palmer and Jackson with Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk for the first time in the starting line-up.
I told them this is the last time I will accept this type of behavior. It’s impossible, after a performance like this, to show this kind of behavior.”
Mauricio Pochettino, on Chelsea’s players fighting with each other to take a penalty