Pochettino says Chelsea players behaved like ‘kids’ when squabbling over who took a penalty

LONDON (AP) — An unseemly squabble involving six Chelsea players over who should take a penalty angered manager Mauricio Pochettino because of the message it sent around the world about his squad’s behavior.

“You cannot behave like kids,” Pochettino said in reference to a minute-long series of bizarre confrontations in the second half of Chelsea’s 6-0 victory over Everton in the Premier League on Monday.

After Chelsea was awarded a spot kick in the 63rd with the team leading 4-0, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson both attempted to take the ball from Malo Gusto, who was holding it while Cole Palmer — the team’s regular penalty taker who had already scored a hat trick in the first half — was on the ground having been fouled.

Madueke lunged to grab the ball off Gusto, and then argued with Jackson as they both walked over to the spot before experienced Brazil defender Thiago Silva got involved and talked to them while putting his arms around their shoulders.