Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino urges players to prove against Arsenal that this is not Cole Palmer Football Club
According to The Athletic (Subscription Required), Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is urging his players to showcase their independence from relying solely on Cole Palmer in their upcoming match against Arsenal. Palmer sidelined due to illness, will miss his first encounter with Chelsea since December, leaving a gap in the squad as the 20-goal attacker competes for the Premier League Golden Boot alongside Erling Haaland and Ollie Watkins.
Rather than dwelling on Palmer’s absence and questioning their ability to overcome Arsenal without their star forward, Pochettino wants the rest of the team to seize this opportunity to prove their worth. He emphasizes the importance of every player demonstrating their contribution to the team’s success, highlighting that Chelsea is not solely “Cole Palmer Football Club.”
Reporters questioned Pochettino ahead of the London derby about whether his other attackers are capable of filling in should his star man be absent. He said:
“We will see. We will see. It is a good challenge if Palmer is not available tomorrow. It’s a good challenge for his teammates or those in a similar position. If I were them, I would be motivated to go there tomorrow and show that this is Chelsea Football Club, not Cole Palmer Football Club.”
Palmer has dominated the competition for much of the season, and there were undertones of strain amid the penalty misunderstanding drama when Chelsea defeated Everton 6-0 last week. But Pochettino denied that some of his players are jealous of Palmer’s success. The boss further said:
“No, it is a good example for them – why is he doing so well and why are they not capable to do the same. It is a good challenge. They are not jealous. They only want the same pill we provide Palmer! It’s a joke! They ask, ‘What you are doing for Palmer, we want the same.’”
Pochettino acknowledges the absence of Palmer for tonight’s match will put us at a disadvantage. However, he sees this as an opportunity for his Blues side to demonstrate their capability independent of the 21-year-old’s presence. Pochettino prepares his team to face the Arsenal challenge with the belief that they can succeed without relying solely on one player.
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Chelsea are actively pursuing a Europa League berth, and securing a win against Arsenal tonight, coupled with their game in hand, would significantly bolster their position in the race for qualification. However, the Gunners cannot be underestimated, and they will undoubtedly exert maximum effort to secure victory in tonight’s league match at home, aiming to solidify their position at the top of the standings.
The outcome of tonight’s match promises to be an intriguing contest, with both teams vying for a crucial three points.