By Scott Trotter
Conor Gallagher has come under fire for not intervening after Raheem Sterling took a penalty ahead of Cole Palmer and missed.
Former Manchester City winger Sterling endured a difficult afternoon during Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final win over Leicester and was targeted by home supporters after the penalty miss, with the jeers intensifying following a wasteful free-kick.
Palmer claimed the ball to take the penalty but was convinced to hand it over to Sterling, who had been upended in the Foxes box. The 29-year-old struck a weak effort, which Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk saved.
Sterling has scored just three of eight penalties outside of shootouts, in great contrast to Palmer's perfect record since joining the Blues. It is not the first time the duo have debated who should have responsibility from the spot as Sterling attempted to take the ball from his teammate against Arsenal in October - Palmer scored on that occasion.
However, while Sterling has come in for plenty of criticism, Gallagher has also been criticised for not ensuring Palmer claimed responsibility. With Reece James out and Ben Chilwell only available from the bench, Cobham product Gallagher donned the captain's armband at Stamford Bridge.
One fan said on X/Twitter: "Conor Gallagher has been a terrible captain today. Why would you let Raheem Sterling take the penalty and free kick off Palmer???".
Another was similarly perplexed: "Why did Palmer give the ball to him? He didn't even look like he wanted to give it to him, Gallagher should have stepped in there as captain as Palmer is a good penalty taker and their actual penalty taker."
It was not only supporters who were confused by what transpired. Both Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Dion Dublin were critical of how events unfolded.
Former Chelsea striker Hasselbaink said: “Palmer is the penalty taker. I used to be the penalty taker, at 1-0 I am not giving that up. It doesn’t matter if someone else is asking to take it.
“I think as a team, and as a captain, Gallagher should go to Sterling and say, ‘No he’s the penalty taker, he’s taken five, scored all five and he needs to take it. It’s 1-0 and we need to secure this match.’”
Dion Dublin, also on punditry duty, added: “We speak about leaders and players taking charge of the situation on the pitch. The captain has to say ‘Palmer you’re taking it. Sorry Raheem, I'll speak to you at half time’. No questions, deal with the arguments later.”
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