Mauricio Pochettino feels Chelsea star Cole Palmer is a specialist in taking penalties
Mauricio Pochettino has backed Cole Palmer to take Chelsea penalties in the future after the forward seems to have taken on the responsibility of taking spot-kicks for the Blues since joining the club. The Argentine manager feels he is become a specialist in taking spot-kicks,
The Argentine manager further feels it also depends on the pitch and recalls his time at Paris Saint-Germain when he had Neymar Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos on the pitch when they received penalties, but at the French club, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar were in charge of taking spot-kicks.
Palmer recorded a brace in a 2-2 draw with Burnley at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and his brace included a wonderful panenka penalty, taking his spot-kick record to six taken and six scored.
Besides penalties, the forward has continued to produce goals for the Blues and has scored 13 goals in his debut campaign for the West Londoners in the league. Palmer’s efficiency in front of the net has enhanced the club’s goal-scoring prowess this season.
However, when asked if Palmer would become the club’s first penalty taker after his goal against Burnley, Pochettino said via Standard Sport:
“If he decides to give the ball to another player, I cannot go onto the pitch to say no, or I’ll get a red card. He is a specialist, shooting really well, but it is a decision on the pitch depending on the circumstances. It is about who is on the pitch. I could say 1, 2, 3, like in Paris [Saint-Germain] with Neymar, [Lionel] Messi and Sergio Ramos.”
As a manager, Pochettino should make the call on who should take penalties because he is the one responsible for making such decisions and avoiding conflicts between the players when it comes to set pieces or penalties. Against Leicester City, Raheem Sterling asked for a penalty from Palmer, but he missed his chance.
When you have Messi, Neymar and Ramos then there will be uncertainty on who will take penalties, however, it was mainly Neymar and Mbappe, while Messi took the duty of taking set-pieces. At Chelsea, we have Enzo Fernandez, Palmer and Sterling. But it’s Palmer who hasn’t missed a penalty. Moreover, fans will be in agreement if Palmer takes the obligation of spot kicks.
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Palmer demonstrated to us once more against Burnley why he ought to be in the position of taking penalties because he shows discipline while doing so and hasn’t botched one since assuming that role. He has improved recently to become one of the best penalty-takers, and when he does take a shot, you can be sure he will score because teammates and supporters trust him to take the penalty comfortably. Hopefully, Pochettino will encourage him to take penalty duty.