by Usually when a team wins a game 6-0, the scoreline is the biggest talking point of the game. Not Chelsea.
After Everton’s defeat at Stamford Bridge last night, Mauricio Pochettino bemoaned his side’s lack of experience and leadership, calling some of his players “school-like kids” after an on-field squabble over who took a penalty. when 4-0 up.
However, this is not the first time Chelsea players have shown a lack of maturity this season. Here, Telegraph Sport looks at five embarrassing moments in the Chelsea soap opera so far this season.
25 November 2023: Second yellow card for James vs Newcastle
Having replaced Cesar Azpilicueta as club captain at the start of the season, this was meant to be the campaign in which Reece James succeeded in leading Chelsea’s young side. This did not materialize, as the right back missed much of the season through injury.
But even when he played, he did not always fulfill his leadership role. With Chelsea twice down at Newcastle and James already on a booking, he foolishly attempted to slice the ball past Anthony Gordon towards his own goal, only to lose the speedy winger in a foot race.
James then pulled Gordon’s shirt, causing him to go down, and the referee had no choice but to brandish a second yellow card. They would win 4-1.
4 February 2024: Silva’s wife wants Pochettino fired
Chelsea have not only suffered embarrassing moments on the pitch this season, but also off it. After a nasty 4-2 home defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers, which followed just days after a 4-1 thumping by Liverpool, Belle Silva – Thiago Silva’s wife – took to social media, calling for Pochettino to be sacked.
It’s time for a change. If you wait any longer it will be too late 💙💙
— Belle Silva (@bellesilva) February 4, 2024
“It’s time for a change. If you wait any longer it will be too late,” she wrote, in a post that has not yet been deleted. After the post gained traction and forced Silva herself to have a word with Pochettino, she apologized three days later.
I am sorry that my personal outburst as a passionate Chelsea fan caused that impact. I am passionate about the team, I thrive on wins and I am saddened by victory.
We all want the same thing, a winning team, come on Chelsea!!💙💙💙— Belle Silva (@bellesilva) February 7, 2024
Given Silva’s seniority and role as one of the leaders in the team, this was not the sort of thing that would fill Chelsea fans with confidence in the dressing room.
17 March 2024: Sterling and Palmer argue on penalty
With Leicester City leading 1-0 in the FA Cup quarter-final, Chelsea were awarded a penalty. Regular penalty taker Cole Palmer, who had converted all five penalties in a Chelsea shirt to that point, had the ball in his hands and was ready to take another. But Raheem Sterling decided he wanted to take the spot-kick, and after a brief discussion, Palmer reluctantly agreed.
Sterling then followed up with one of the tamer efforts you’ll see all season, as the forward rolled his kick straight down the middle, causing Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk no problem. The miss could have been costly, with Leicester eventually tying the game at 2-2.
Later, Chelsea conceded a promising free-kick on the edge of the box. With Palmer and Sterling standing above him, one would assume that Sterling would hand the responsibility to Chelsea’s young star. Instead, he took it upon himself again, setting a terrible sky on the freeway.
4 April 2024: Madueke and Palmer argue over a penalty
With Chelsea trailing 2-3 in the tenth minute of stoppage time at home to Manchester United, they were awarded a penalty kick.
Not a man again 🤦♂️
🚨 Madueke tries to steal the ball from Palmer for the second penalty, but Gilchrist, Chalobah and Badashile had to take it away.
Really do not understand the players man. Always let Palmer take it. pic.twitter.com/qBffJ6F04E
— Finestt ~ FPL (@CFC_Finestt) April 6, 2024
As expected, Palmer managed to take it but was then tackled by Noni Madueke who appeared to be trying to take the spot kick himself. Palmer latched on to the ball, before various Chelsea players stepped in to physically pull Madueke from the spot.
15 April 2024: Madueke and Jackson struggle with the penalty
Arguably Chelsea’s worst and most embarrassing moment of the season came in the 6-0 rout of Everton. With Palmer already on his hat, he was keen to take the penalty and cement his place in the history books by scoring four goals in a Premier League game. However, some of his teammates had other ideas, and went in to take the ball away from him.
Madueke kept it there and wouldn’t give it back to Palmer, as Chelsea’s top scorer demanded he hand it over. Captain Conor Gallagher stepped in to diffuse the situation and eventually got the ball to Palmer, only for Nicolas Jackson to get involved in the football. Jackson attempted to recover the ball before being physically tackled by Palmer, before the penalty was awarded.
