March 17th 2024.
In Chelsea's recent 4-2 victory over Leicester City in the FA Cup, Cole Palmer made a surprising move by allowing Raheem Sterling to take a penalty kick. However, manager Mauricio Pochettino was quick to clarify that this decision was not an issue for him.
The match started off with an early lead from Chelsea, thanks to Marc Cucurella's goal at Stamford Bridge. The team then had the opportunity to double their lead with a penalty kick. Cole Palmer, who has been successful with all of his five penalties since joining Chelsea, initially stepped up to take the kick. But after a brief exchange with Sterling, Palmer passed the ball to him instead. Unfortunately, Sterling's attempt was saved by Leicester's goalkeeper, Jakub Stolarczyk.
When questioned about Palmer's decision to let Sterling take the penalty, Pochettino responded, "I think you know very well that is Cole. But Cole gave the ball to Raheem, I think they have a very good relationship. It came from their time at Manchester City, where they were both teammates." Pochettino further emphasized that the decision was ultimately up to the players and he will always support their choices on the field.
The incident was not the only time Sterling pulled rank on Palmer during the match. He also took a free kick that was within Palmer's range, much to the disappointment of Chelsea fans. However, Pochettino urged the fans to support Sterling, acknowledging his experience and contributions to the team. He also reminded them that they are in the process of building a strong team and need to trust his decisions as the manager.
Pochettino also addressed the booing from Chelsea fans towards Sterling, stating, "Fans are entitled to show their emotions. But for us, we try to empathize with our fans and not criticize. We are working towards a project and we need their support and belief." He also emphasized the importance of respect, both from the fans towards the team and from the team towards his decisions.
In the end, Pochettino was pleased with the team's performance, especially with their win and advancement to the next round of the FA Cup. He assured the fans that they are on the right track and urged them to trust in his management style. With the fans behind them, Pochettino believes that Chelsea can achieve great things in the future.
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