• 8 months ago
Noni Madueke tried to steal Chelsea's crucial late penalty against Manchester United off Cole Palmer and had to be dragged away by teammates.

Footage filmed from the Stamford Bridge stands towards the end of Thursday night's thriller shows Madueke - who'd won the 100th-minute spot-kick - demanding the ball from regular taker Palmer.

As Palmer - who'd scored a penalty earlier in the contest - prepares to place the ball on the spot and try to draw Chelsea level at 3-3, Madueke can be seen trying to persuade him to hand it over.

Winger Madueke was no doubt arguing to Palmer he'd won the penalty after Diogo Dalot clumsily sent him tumbling to the ground deep into stoppage time.

But Palmer held firm with a combination of Alfie Gilchrist, Trevoh Chalobah, and Benoit Badiashile guiding Madueke away.

Palmer, who has never missed a penalty in senior football, made it eight from eight scored this season by beating Andre Onana.

Seconds later, he capped a dramatic Chelsea comeback and completed his hat-trick by firing home following a corner routine.

In another clip of the penalty argument, Chelsea fans can be heard urging Madueke to leave it to the reliable Palmer.

Madueke has scored both his penalties taken for Chelsea this season, against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup in August and Crystal Palace in the Premier League in December.

It's far from the first time Mauricio Pochettino's players have rowed over who should take a penalty this season.

Against Arsenal in October, Palmer and Raheem Sterling were engaged in a debate after the Blues were awarded a spot-kick by VAR when William Saliba handled off Mykhailo Mudryk.

Palmer, who has shone since his £42.5million arrival from Manchester City last summer, initially picked up the ball but Sterling stepped forward to take the ball off him.

After some further discussion, the ball was returned to Palmer, who duly beat David Raya to score.

Last month, Sterling was criticized after taking the ball off Palmer after winning a penalty in Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final against Leicester City.

Sterling's penalty was poorly struck and was saved though Chelsea ultimately went on to win the match 4-2.

During BBC's half-time analysis, Gary Lineker said it was 'strange' that Raheem Sterling took the ball off Cole Palmer when he has scored five in his last seven, compared to Palmer's five in five.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Dion Dublin both agreed that Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher should have had a word with Sterling.

Hasselbaink said: 'Gallagher as a captain you should go to Sterling and say no he's the penalty taker. He's taken five in a row, he's scored all five. He needs to take it. It's 1-0, let's secure this match.'

Dublin added: 'We speak about leaders and those taking charge on the pitch. The captain has to go "Right Palmer that's it you're taking it, sorry Raheem I will speak to you at half-time. That's what's happening, no questions" - deal with the arguments later.'

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