Mauricio Pochettino says the row between Chelsea’s players over their penalty against Everton highlights the youthful indiscipline and lack of teamwork which has held them back all season.
The Blues were already 4-0 up when they won a second-half penalty last night, and first-choice taker Cole Palmer already had a hat-trick.
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That prompted Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson to try to claim responsibility for taking the spot-kick, causing an argument with Palmer where Thiago Silva and Conor Gallagher had to intervene.
In the end, Palmer took the ball and successfully converted his ninth spot-kick from nine attempts this season - but Pochettino felt the incident was telling.
"That is the part of the process that we need to learn, that when you have a young squad sometimes the personal aims, the individual things, are in front of the collective," said the head coach.
"When you ask me about why we are not consistent, why we are not performing sometimes, why we show some good performances and then we drop, it's because of the standards, their standards.
"They're a young squad and they need to know, very clear, that of course they are very good assets of the club, but at the same time they need to perform for the team. And they really need to learn quick because they are in Chelsea and the demand is so high."
Pochettino continued: "I want to tell you, to make it clear, that the players know, the staff know, the club knows, that the taker on penalties is Cole Palmer.
"All that happened after is a shame. I am so, so upset about this situation. We were talking in the dressing room about the image that we send, because it's Monday night, it's football and in every single country they were watching the game, and we cannot send this type of image.
"I want to apologise to football people and our fans because that is unacceptable. The discipline is the most important thing in the team, that it's a collective sport.
"Of course the players, and the offensive players, need to show that they have the hunger to score goals and everything. But I think this type of situation, I'm going to take a decision if that happens.
"We were talking in a very good way because I think we need to make the situation clear, that I'm not going to accept this type of behaviour again. And I'm going to be very strong if something even close happens like this. I was telling them, and I promise it's not going to happen again."
'We were laughing and joking about it'
For his own part, Palmer feels Madueke and Jackson were trying to show character, and insists there are no issues between the players.
“Other players wanted to take it, which is understandable because it's 4-0,” he told Sky Sports. “But I'm the penalty-taker and I wanted to take it, so in the end I took it.
“We're trying to show that everyone wants to take responsibility. Maybe it was a bit over the top with the argument and stuff, but everyone wants to help.
“It was nothing major, we were laughing and joking about it. The gaffer has told us now.”
