Mauricio Pochettino: ‘We Behaved Like Kids Today’

Despite a resounding 6-0 victory for Chelsea, including a standout four-goal performance from Cole Palmer, manager Mauricio Pochettino was left fuming at the final whistle. The game against Everton at Stamford Bridge was marred by a second-half penalty dispute among his players, even with Chelsea leading 4-0.

The incident escalated when Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke clashed over who should take the penalty after Madueke was fouled in the box. Captain Conor Gallagher stepped in, physically separating the arguing teammates, and gave the ball to Palmer, the team’s assigned penalty taker.

On what should have been a night to celebrate for Pchettino and his resurgent Chelsea team, the childishness of some of his players gave the manager yet another headache in what has been a difficult season.

“The players and staff know that Cole Palmer is the penalty taker.”

“I am so, so upset about the situation. Discipline is the most important thing in our team.”

“We all agree they [Jackson and Madueke] were wrong. They are not experienced players. They are young. It was very good the reaction by Conor Gallagher [to diffuse things].”

“We can’t show that type of behaviour,” he continued. “It’s like we are in a school, and our job is to show them they were wrong so they can learn. There will be no punishment, but this can’t happen again. If Palmer is on the pitch, he is the penalty taker.”

Palmer went on to slot the penalty home, earning further praise from his manager.

“He was a player always with the capacity to score when at Manchester City, but I think the way he has adapted himself is fantastic.”

“He is amazing for the team, for him, and he is showing that the club made the right decision in signing him.

“Overall, I am happy with the performance. We showed a different approach than against Sheffield United. We improved in different areas, and today was the perfect game.”

“It’s impossible after a performance like this to have this type of behavior that shows that we are in a process, and we will learn a lot,” Pochettino added. “We are a great team fighting for big things. We need to change and think more in a collective way.

“I thought we behaved like kids today. When this happens, we need to learn and learn quick. Perform like today but behave much better.”

In the other dugout, Everton manager Sean Dyche was left to rue what was arguably the worst result of his managerial career.

“[It was a] horrible defeat. Arguably the worst of my career, I am 500 games in, 300 odd in the Premier League as a manager and that’s just an awful night. 

“For our fans as well, we came with high expectations and actually started the game really well – exactly how we wanted to. We made them uncomfortable, we had a chance in the first minute or so – but you can’t defend like that. 

“It’s unusual but we can’t defend like that. There’s no fight in the defending, there was no detail in the defending, no hard yards or tackling. It was bizarre, like shadow football for their goals. It was way off the mark, miles off the mark. 

“The last time we were miles off was Villa away. The good thing was that gave us a stark reminder. We need to use this as a stark reminder – it certainly has been for me. I am looking at the players I am picking and I am going, ‘Right, okay there’s a reminder for me’. 

“That’s nowhere near – absolutely nowhere near – good enough or acceptable – from me, either.”