Mauricio Pochettino has criticised the argument between his Chelsea players over who got to take a penalty during his side’s 6-0 victory over Everton on Monday.
Chelsea were awarded a penalty late into the second half at Stamford Bridge after Cole Palmer, who scored four goals on the night, was fouled by Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson were seen having an altercation in the penalty area, arguing over who got to take the resultant spot kick.
Several Chelsea players intervened in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, but it was captain Conor Gallagher who eventually took the ball off Madueke and gave it to Palmer, who dispatched from the spot.
Pochettino told Monday Night Football: “It is a shame. I was telling the players before. We had a meeting with all the staff and I explained.
“For me, it is a shame. We cannot behave in this way. I told them that this was the last time that I will accept this type of behaviour.
“It is impossible after a performance like this (against Everton) to have this type of behaviour. We are in a process and we are learning a lot. We want to be a great team and fight for big things. We need to think in a more collective way instead of individual achievements.
“I made clear today, to the team and the fans that Cole Palmer is our penalty taker. If Palmer wants to give the ball to someone else fine, but not in this way. It is a really sad situation that happened and I will not accept it happening again.”
Goals from Jackson and Alfie Gilchrist in addition to the four goals from Palmer, sealed a dominant victory for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer’s penalty, his 20th goal in the Premier League this season, moved him to joint-top of the division’s top scorer leaderboard, alongside Erling Haaland.
Pochettino’s side, who are ninth in the Premier League, are next in action against Manchester City in the semi-final of the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday.
GO DEEPER
The Briefing: Chelsea 6 Everton 0: Four more goals for Palmer and an argument over penalty duties
(Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
