Graham Potter has warned Chelsea star Kai Havertz about his celebration following Everton draw
Graham Potter did not enjoy how Kai Havertz celebrated his goal after scoring a penalty in the 2-2 draw against Everton last night.
With goals from Joao Felix and Havertz, Chelsea and Everton were held to a 2-2 draw. The German believed he had saved Chelsea three points, but Ellis Simms’ equaliser in the 89th minute saved a point for the Toffees.
Felix’s low left-corner strike gave Chelsea the lead, but Abdoulaye Doucoure’s equaliser for the visitors 15 minutes later brought the score level.
Chelsea got the opportunity to revive themselves when they got a penalty after Reece James was bundled in the box. Havertz stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty, and he celebrated by dissing Jordan Pickford by putting his fingers on his head and sticking his tongue out.
Havertz, whose goal-scoring record has been hampered by inconsistency, has now netted three goals in Chelsea’s previous three games. The 23-year-old has only seven goals this season in 27 games.
While, (h/t Mirror), speaking to a reporter after the game, Potter expressed his displeasure with the manner in which Havertz celebrated his goal. He said:
“When players score, they have something like an out-of-body experience. I didn’t score many myself, so I wouldn’t know. You should enjoy the celebration; I don’t think you need to involve the opponent. That would be my perspective.”
It isn’t the rarest sight in football for a player to score and taunt the opposition. Jordan Pickford was trying to get into his head before he stepped up to take the penalty, and the former Bayer Leverkusen man gave him a piece of his mind after scoring.
Yet Potter would have preferred that Havertz treat him with respect because not all coaches like it when their players criticise rivals after goals or when their side wins. Pickford isn’t the nicest guy you will find in football but he was doing what he thought was necessary to give his team an advantage.
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These things tend to happen in football to enrage your opponent; perhaps if Havertz engages in all of these shenanigans, he should also perform well when the game is on the line. Scoring from spot-kicks is good and well, but it’s time he contributes from open play and in moments that matter.