Pochettino: ‘Let’s show we’re not Cole Palmer FC’
Mauricio Pochettino has challenged Chelsea to prove that they are not “Cole Palmer Football Club” should they have to take on Arsenal tonight without their player of the season.
Palmer, who has been Chelsea’s main source of goals and creativity since joining from Manchester City last September, is a doubt because of illness and Pochettino wants the rest of his players to show that they are not dependent on the 21-year-old.
“It is a good challenge in case Palmer is not available,” Chelsea’s head coach said. “It’s a good challenge for the teammates. If I am a teammate of Cole Palmer in his position or a similar position, I am going to be motivated to go there and show this is Chelsea Football Club, not Cole Palmer Football Club.”
Palmer has left others in the shade for much of the campaign and there were hints of tension when Chelsea beat Everton 6-0 last week. Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson were criticised for trying to snatch a penalty off Palmer. But Pochettino denied that some of his players are
jealous of Palmer’s success. “No, it is a good example for them – why is he doing so well and why are they not capable to do the same,” he said. “It is a good challenge. They are not jealous. They only want the same pill we provide Palmer! It’s a joke! They ask: ‘What you are doing for Palmer, we want the same.’”
Pochettino has not decided on who will take penalties if Palmer is out. “I will decide when I pick the starting XI but we have players like Noni Madueke, [Conor] Gallagher, [Enzo] Fernández or even Jackson that can shoot,” he said. “It will depend. Of course, there is [Mykhailo] Mudryk.”
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has dismissed concerns about fatigue in his squad and insisted that victory over Wolves has reinvigorated his players.
“There is so much at stake,” he said. “We will try to be as fresh as possible but certainly I think we can cope with that. When I saw them this morning I had to stop them because winning is a big boost of energy. After winning against Wolves and having to play a London derby everyone is ready. We have to think and feel that we are fresh to play in the best possible way.”