Cole Palmer’s four-goal haul in Chelsea’s thumping 6-0 win over Everton at Stamford Bridge was overshadowed by what Mauricio Pochettino referred to as “unacceptable” behaviour as two of his gamers had been concerned in a bodily altercation over who ought to take a penalty.
The house aspect had been 4 objectives up within the second half when Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke precipitated the unsavoury scene that left their supervisor feeling the necessity to apologise to followers watching the sport world wide.
Palmer, the membership’s appointed penalty taker, lastly took cost following intervention from the captain Conor Gallagher, recovering his composure to attain his fourth of the sport and transfer on to twenty Premier League objectives for the season.
PALMER TUCKS IT AWAY FOR HIS FOURTH! INCREDIBLE!
5-0 [63] #CFC | #CheEve pic.twitter.com/7GEftfjKtz
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 15, 2024
“The gamers know, the membership is aware of that Palmer is the penalty-taker,” mentioned Pochettino, who was visibly agitated throughout his post-match duties.
“I’m so, so upset in regards to the state of affairs. In each nation individuals are watching the sport and we can not ship the sort of picture.
“I wish to apologise to our followers. Self-discipline is a very powerful factor for the workforce. It’s a collective sport. I’m not going to simply accept the sort of behaviour. I’m going to be very robust. I promise it’s not going to occur once more.
“We have to transfer on and discuss in regards to the sport – 6-0 in opposition to an excellent workforce like Everton, clear sheet, I feel we needs to be pleased, no?”
Cole Palmer’s final two Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge
7⃣ goals2⃣ hat-tricks2⃣ match balls pic.twitter.com/xV7Fmr6sDh
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 15, 2024
In a debut season outlined by particular person excellence, the primary half was excellent, even by Palmer’s personal distinctive requirements.
His first purpose alone was worthy of successful a Premier League match, nutmegging Jarrad Branthwaite earlier than enjoying a neat one-two with Jackson, then curling the ball left-footed past the dive of Jordan Pickford.
His second was a poacher’s end, reacting quickest to knock within the rebound after Jackson’s effort had been pushed out by the goalkeeper.
Everton had been falling aside, a collapse encapsulated by Pickford’s error, enjoying the ball straight to Palmer to punt the ball into an empty internet from 45 yards.
Jackson scored Chelsea’s fourth, hooking Marc Cucurella’s cross underneath management and guiding it dwelling with a swing of the proper boot.
Then got here the sight of Jackson and Madueke pushing and shoving over a penalty awarded within the 63rd minute.
“We don’t discuss punishment,” mentioned Pochettino. “It’s about studying. They’re younger guys. It was superb the response of Gallagher like a captain. However you can not present that kind of behaviour.
“The self-discipline goes to be stronger. In the event that they behave like youngsters, it’s unimaginable. You can’t behave like youngsters. It’s a disgrace, it’s an unacceptable factor. We don’t should be speaking about this.”
On the finish of a superb show, academy graduate Alfie Gilchrist capped issues off by firing dwelling his first purpose for the membership in stoppage time.
Everton boss Sean Dyche, whose aspect sit simply two factors away from the relegation zone, mirrored on a “horrid” night time for his workforce.
“It’s miles off the place we wish to be,” he mentioned. “There’s no excuses for that. Miles off the mark, miles from the place we’ve been.
“The objectives had been alarmingly poor. It’s simply easy tackling, studying and anticipating the sport. The fundamentals had been out the window. A horrid night time with out a shadow of a doubt.”