Mauricio Pochettino admitted after the game against Crystal Palace that Noni Madueke wasn’t supposed to take Chelsea’s penalty in the win against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, unless his first-choice player wasn’t ready to.
The Blues secured a much-needed 2-1 win against Palace in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful after struggling to break down the stubborn visitor’s defence.
Mykhailo Mudryk’s early goal was cancelled out by Michael Olise’s late equaliser in the first half, and the affair seemed headed for a draw after several missed chances by Chelsea, before Noni Madueke scored from the spot with just a few minutes to go.
The winger was subbed on in the second half, as Chelsea went in desperate search of a goal, and would turn his side’s hero when he stepped forward to convert a penalty he earned in the 89th minute.
However, Pochettino has revealed that Conor Gallagher was actually the player he tasked with taking penalties in the absence of Cole Palmer, although he did instruct his captain to allow Madueke take it if he wasn’t feeling up to it.
“It was Conor [Gallagher] and I said to him ‘it’s you but if you’re not confident enough give it Noni’,” said the Chelsea manager.
“I am so glad and so happy. He came from the bench and showed this hunger and confidence.”
Meanwhile, Madueke revealed after the game that he was very confident in himself, and wanted to take the penalty kick after winning it, saying: “The penalty was always going to be mine! I’m confident from the spot — I just told Conor [Gallagher] don’t worry, I will score.”
“It’s a big moment for me,” he added. “The first few months of the season haven’t gone as well as I’d have liked, it’s been a bit stop-start.
“This is what we do it for, those type of moments, and I’m just happy to get the team three points.”