Fans make same point about Cole Palmer after Raheem Sterling misses penalty against Leicester
Many Chelsea fans expressed their belief on social media that Raheem Sterling should have allowed Cole Palmer to take Chelsea’s first-half penalty in their FA Cup match against Leicester City. In the 26th minute of Sunday’s quarterfinal, Abdul Fatawu fouled Sterling in the box with a reckless challenge from behind, setting up a potential opportunity for Mauricio Pochettino’s team to extend their lead.
Despite Sterling’s challenging performance in the first half, he stepped up to take the penalty, surprising some fans who expected Palmer to take it, given his recent success from the spot. Unfortunately, Sterling’s attempt was feeble, easily saved by Jakub Stolarczyk, leaving many Chelsea supporters frustrated.
On social media, reactions to the missed penalty were swift and critical. One fan described it as a “pitiful punishment,” while another called it an “utterly bizarre decision” to have Sterling take the penalty instead of Palmer. Some criticized Chelsea’s lack of leadership and game management, questioning why Sterling was allowed to take the penalty over Palmer, who is known for his prowess from the spot.
Mauricio Pochettino had previously revealed that Chelsea does not have a designated penalty taker, stating that several players are capable of taking on that responsibility. He emphasized the importance of players making decisions on the pitch and asserted that Palmer would typically take penalties if he is on the field, but he trusts other players like Sterling and Nico Jackson to step up when needed.
The tweet referenced at the end of the article appears to be an advertisement or promotion related to the Emirates FA Cup, but without further context, its relevance is unclear.
