How an ugly penalty-taking dispute among players marred Chelsea's 6-0 rout of Everton

Normally, when a team that has been struggling manages to secure a resounding 6-0 victory, it would be a reason for great jubilation. This is not the case for Chelsea.  

The once-dominant force in the Premier League finds itself in a rather unique situation. Their performances have been characterized by occasional brilliance, but also consistent chaos. Despite sporadic glimpses of improvement, they remain susceptible to moments of baffling infantilism.

After storming to a commanding 4-0 lead against Everton in the first half, Chelsea were awarded a penalty just past the hour mark. However, an intense debate ensued among the teammates regarding who should take the spot-kick. Cole Palmer, the regular penalty taker who had already completed a hat-trick, was momentarily on the ground, creating a moment of uncertainty. 

Noni Madueke, who had been brought down by James Tarkowski, expressed his desire to step up for the penalty, while Nicolas Jackson, hoping to add to his goal tally for the evening, also vied for the opportunity. A fiery exchange ignited between the two, causing tension to escalate. Eventually, as Palmer regained his composure and rose to his feet, he asserted his authority and claimed the responsibility to take the penalty.  

However, the animosity continued to simmer, prompting Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher to intervene, urging Madueke and Jackson to yield to Palmer's decision. Even experienced defender Thiago Silva stepped in to calm the tempers. However, Jackson persisted in his efforts to snatch the ball from Palmer, resulting in a firm push from the determined penalty taker.  

Finally, Palmer took the spot kick, exhibiting composure and precision as he successfully converted, notching his 20th Premier League goal of the season and extending Chelsea's lead to an emphatic 5-0. The goal put Palmer level with Manchester City's Erling Haaland at the top of the golden boot race.

What then caught the attention was Jackson's refusal to join in the celebrations that ensued. The 22-year striker seemed unwilling to acknowledge Palmer's goal. It took the collective efforts of several Chelsea players to persuade Jackson to acknowledge his teammate's achievement. Ultimately, they managed to coax a reaction from Jackson, who lightly tapped Palmer on the head before swiftly sprinting away, his visible anger still evident.

Following the penalty controversy, substitute Alfie Gilchrist managed to score his first goal for the club, sealing Everton's worst defeat of the season. With this victory, Chelsea are now just three points behind Manchester United, who currently hold seventh place. However, despite the positive outcome, much of the post-match discussion revolved around the penalty dispute.  

An enraged Mauricio Pochettino, who reasserted that Palmer is the designated penalty taker for the team, admitted that the incident portrayed his team's mentality in a negative light. The Chelsea manager emphasized the importance of collective focus and warned Jackson and Madueke that they could face being dropped from the squad if they fail to learn from their immature behavior.

"It's a shame," fumed Pochettino. "We had a meeting with all the staff and I told the players we can't behave in this way. I told them this is the last time I will accept this type of behavior. 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 behavior. 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."

Palmer, in an attempt to downplay the incident, tried to minimize its significance during the post-match discussion. With a nonchalant tone, he remarked, "Other players wanted to take it, but I am the penalty taker and I wanted to take it... I think we are showing everyone is wanting to take responsibility. It may be a bit over the top, but everyone wants to win."  

At the end of the day, in a sardonic twist, it's rather comical that the players who put in the most effort in trying to prevent Palmer from scoring happened to be none other than his own teammates.