Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin praised Cole Palmer for taking the initiative to score a penalty against Everton, despite a dispute between teammates over who should take it. The Blues were already 4-0 up when they were awarded a second-half spot-kick. Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke argued about who would take the penalty, but Palmer, who is Chelsea’s regular taker, eventually stepped up and scored his fourth goal of the match. Manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed his disapproval of this behavior, stating that he cannot accept it.
Nevin, a former Scotland international, explained that the rule in dressing rooms and squads is that the designated penalty taker should be allowed to take the penalty. He commended Palmer for standing his ground and also praised Conor Gallagher for supporting him. Nevin criticized the other players involved in the dispute, suggesting that the manager should address their behavior.
In Nevin’s view, effective management is crucial in getting the best out of players. He mentioned that if he were the manager, he would have considered substituting the players involved in the dispute as a form of punishment and to convey the message that teamwork is essential. Despite this incident, Nevin acknowledged that the players are young and have room for improvement.