MAURICIO POCHETTINO blasted his Chelsea “kids” for their petulant penalty argument.
Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson had an embarrassing bust-up over who would take a spot-kick when they were 4-0 up against Everton with Pochettino warning they will be dropped if it ever happens again.
Cole Palmer stole the show with FOUR goals to move joint top in the Golden Boot race.
But his last strike in the 6-0 win, a 64th-minute penalty, came after a bust-up between Chelsea stars.
He had already scored a perfect 16-minute hat-trick when a spot-kick was given after he was clipped.
Madueke battled Jackson AND Palmer for the penalty.
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Once the penalty was given, Madueke stormed over to Malo Gusto to rip the ball from his hands before starting his row with Jackson.
Thiago Silva tried to calm the pair before captain Conor Gallagher snatched the ball off Madueke, with both the skipper and Palmer shoving Jackson away.
Pochettino said: “It’s a shame.
“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.
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“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.”
When asked if the row – which appeared to continue to simmer after the final whistle – will affect his selection for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Man City at Wembley, Poch added: “No, no. It does not work like this.
“They are not experienced players that really know what they are doing. They are young. They are kids.
“They need to experience some situations to learn.
“We are like in a school. We need to show that they were wrong, now they need to learn.
“If they don’t learn, yes we will take some decision.
“Now it is about learning, using this experience to move on.”
The bust-up took the gloss off of Palmer’s stunning show at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer is level with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland on 20 Prem strikes this term.
It gives England boss Gareth Southgate a big nudge ahead of the Euros with Three Lions assistant, Steve Holland, watching in the stands.
Palmer said: “It all happens so fast. We started well and I scored another hat-trick – buzzing. The team needed that after Sunday, but we did well tonight.”
Everton defender James Tarkowski said: “It’s the most embarrassed I’ve ever felt as an individual as a footballer. It’s on us as players, we need to go out and perform and we didn’t.”
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Furious Toffees boss Sean Dyche added: “A horrid night without a doubt.
“You can’t give away soft goals like that. They’re dancing around us.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
