CHELSEA were accused of nearly “imploding” during their 6-0 win over Everton when Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson astonishingly attempted to wrestle a penalty away from Cole Palmer.
Regular spot kick taker Palmer, 21, who had already scored a perfect hat-trick in the first-half, was poised to bag his fourth of the game against Everton on Monday night after he was fouled in the box.
Madueke was brought down immediately after Palmer hit the deck, but referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot for the initial challenge on the England international.
Madueke, who also tried to take a penalty from Palmer earlier this month during the Blues’ 4-3 win over Manchester United, then refused to give the ball over, before Jackson also appeared to claim he should take it.
Eventually, after a length squabble, Chelsea skipper Conor Gallagher came over to diffuse the situation, taking the ball from Madueke and handing it to Palmer.
Jackson then tried to rip the ball from Palmer, and when he couldn’t the Senegalese forward remonstrated with Gallagher as he made his way out of the penalty area.
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Palmer sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way to put Chelsea 5-0 up, seconds after commentator Alan Smith had been left stunned by the altercation, admitting he had “never seen anything like it”.
And Mauricio Pochettino was furious about the incident in his post-match interview.
He told Sky Sports: “It’s a shame because we can’t behave in this way.
“This is the last time I accept this behaviour. The next time they’re all out.
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“It’s not a joke, it’s impossible to have this type of behaviour. It’s so clear, I made it clear to them and to the fans that Cole Palmer is the penalty.
“If Cole Palmer wants to give it to another, but not in this way. It’s very sad and I don’t want it to happen again.”
Madueke was substituted just minutes after the altercation, before fans took to social media to condemn the bizarre scene.
One said: “Chelsea are the only team that can implode while winning 5-0 😂🤣.”
A second responded: “Grown men behaving like kids. Pathetic.”
Another added: “Jackson and Madueke absolutely pathetic, both should be hooked off.”
And a fourth replied: “Madueke and Jackson, get them both off the pitch.”
It clouded what was otherwise a brilliant night for Chelsea as they breezed to a straightforward victory.
Palmer’s four goals move him level with Erling Haaland as the joint-top scorer in the Premier League this season on 20.
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Chelsea, now unbeaten in eight league matches, have moved to within three points of sixth-place Newcastle and still have one game in hand.
They now turn their attention towards the FA Cup as they face the daunting task of taking on holders Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
