Mauricio Pochettino, the Chelsea manager, has been quite explicit regarding the Blues’ choice for their primary penalty taker. According to him, Cole Palmer is now the designated penalty taker for the team. This designation has come after some significant performances by Palmer, who only recently arrived at Chelsea from Manchester City.
Palmer’s debut on the penalty front for Chelsea came earlier this month when he netted from the spot against Burnley. It was a moment that marked his initiation into the role, and he proved to be up to the task. His successful penalty was a clear signal of his capabilities and readiness to take on this responsibility.
In the recent clash with Arsenal, Palmer once again stepped up to take a penalty, and he didn’t disappoint. The fact that he converted another spot kick in a game as crucial as the one against Arsenal further solidified his position as the primary penalty taker for Chelsea.
However, it’s worth noting that there was an interesting situation in the match against Arsenal. Palmer and Raheem Sterling were caught in a dispute before Palmer took the penalty. This indicates that there may be some competition or discussions within the team about who should be taking penalties. Pochettino shed some light on this by saying, “A few players who can take the penalty. It concerns their emotions. We delegate decision-making authority to them as a coaching staff on the field.”
This statement from Pochettino shows that the decision-making process for who takes penalties is not solely based on the manager’s choice but is influenced by the players’ emotions and consensus on the field. This suggests a degree of flexibility in the team’s approach to penalty taking.
Pochettino goes on to emphasize the importance of decision-making and personality when it comes to taking penalties. It’s not just about the skill to strike the ball accurately from the spot, but also about having the confidence and personality to step up and take on the responsibility.
The manager also hinted at the possibility of other players taking penalties if Palmer is not on the field. In such cases, he expressed his satisfaction with the idea of Raheem Sterling and Nico Jackson taking on this role. This demonstrates that there is a contingency plan in place, ensuring that the team is prepared for various scenarios.
