Chelsea’s head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, has disclosed that the team doesn’t have a designated penalty-taker. During their recent Premier League match against Arsenal, a dispute arose between Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling over who should take a penalty. To resolve the issue, Enzo Fernandez stepped in, allowing Palmer to take the spot-kick, which he successfully converted past David Raya.
Pochettino’s revelation clarifies Chelsea’s approach to penalties, emphasizing that players have the freedom to decide on the pitch. He explained, “There are a few players who can take the penalty. It’s about their feelings. As a coaching staff, we give them the responsibility to decide on the pitch.”
This new policy seems to have worked for the Blues, as Palmer has scored two penalties this season, making him the third-youngest player in Premier League history to score consecutive penalties. The milestone places him behind only Bukayo Saka and Peter Ndlovu.
Chelsea’s penalty dynamics will be under scrutiny in their upcoming Premier League match against Brentford. This unconventional approach to penalties has certainly added an interesting dimension to Chelsea’s gameplay.
