Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has affirmed Cole Palmer as the club’s designated penalty taker following a regrettable altercation involving Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke on the evening of April 15th.
During their match against Everton at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea found themselves in a dominant position with a 4-0 lead in the second half when they were awarded a penalty. With Palmer having already secured a first-half hat-trick, both Madueke and Jackson vied for the opportunity to take the penalty kick.
A brief scuffle ensued, with tensions visibly escalating until Thiago Silva intervened to calm the situation. Initially, it appeared that Madueke would take the penalty, but Palmer ultimately claimed the responsibility by retrieving the ball from his teammate. Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher also weighed in, advocating for Palmer to take the penalty, which was then settled.
With composure beyond his years, the 21-year-old calmly converted his fourth goal of the night as Chelsea continued their dominance, eventually winning 6-0.
In his post-match remarks, Pochettino expressed regret over the incident, apologizing to Chelsea fans for the “shameful” behavior. He also clarified the club’s penalty taker, emphasizing the importance of discipline and the negative image such incidents project.
“To be clear, both the players and staff understand that Cole Palmer is our designated penalty taker. What occurred afterward is regrettable. We discussed in the locker room the message we convey globally, and such behavior is unacceptable.
“I extend my apologies to our fans. Discipline remains paramount,” Pochettino emphasized.
