Premier League penalty fiasco shows Leeds United respect deficit as manager storms out in response

The Blues' spot-kick fracas made headlines despite the fact Chelsea ran out 6-0 winners against Sean Dyche's Toffees. Sky Sports cameras broadcast for all to see the disagreement between designated taker Palmer and teammates Madueke and Jackson, both of whom were keen to take the penalty themselves with Chelsea already several goals up and Palmer having already netted himself a first-half hat-trick.

Skipper Conor Gallagher was peacemaker, eventually seeing to it that Palmer took possession of the ball, but not without dissenting pair Madueke and Jackson's vociferous protest, which continued after the penalty's conversion. The former Manchester City youngster dispatched of the spot-kick to make it five-nil before academy graduate Alfie Gilchrist added a sixth in stoppage time, but questions in Mauricio Pochettino's post-match press conference centred on the penalty fiasco.

The Argentine eventually called time on the press briefing, choosing not to answer further, audibly agitated by the line of questioning taken by those in the press suite at Stamford Bridge. The entire affair was derided by opposition fans on social media while Chelsea supporters suggested the club had been embarrassed by the players' behaviour.

At the beginning of this month, Leeds found themselves in a similar scenario as Joel Piroe and Crysencio Summerville clashed over who would take a decisive spot-kick in the 3-1 win over Hull City. Given the timing of the penalty award, in the 88th minute, and what was at stake, headlines could have been written about the Dutchmen's spat, but the situation was not allowed to spiral, as it did at Stamford Bridge with shoving and visible insubordination.

Captain Ethan Ampadu intervened while Piroe protested and the 24-year-old striker reluctantly respected the decision to hand Summerville the penalty kick. Likewise, during Daniel Farke's post-match press conference, the manager defused any suggestion of a rift in camp, caused by the disagreement, taking blame for the miscommunication over who was designated taker, whilst also praising Piroe for his restraint and support of Summerville during what could have been an inflammatory incident.

"The deciding factor was that we wanted to score and everyone wanted to make sure that we scored," Farke said on April 1. "Summerville was our taker on the teamsheet, and normally when I substitute Joel Piroe, then he’s the first man, but the problem was I don’t like to take a penalty when you are 30 seconds on the pitch. I never believe in bringing players on just for penalties because normally you need to have a few touches and for that, there was a bit of confusion,

"Joel was 30 seconds on the pitch and hardly had a touch, so for that it was definitely the right decision that Cree then overtook and thank God he scored. Joel was then later on with a really good assist for the third goal, I am pretty pleased for both of them," the Leeds boss added.

On Monday night, Senegalese striker Jackson had to be corralled into congratulating goalscorer Palmer with the rest of the team and even then did so half-heartedly, still visibly annoyed at the spurned opportunity to add to his season tally. Additionally, Pochettino took a hard line with his players, deeming the fracas 'unacceptable'.

In comparing the two instances, there are similarities but the differentiating factor is that Leeds' participants conducted themselves, largely, with respect and professionalism. Chelsea's players on the other hand, have been described conversely in the national press, while Pochettino left Chelsea's media conference in the midst of a verbal row with a journalist in attendance.

Whether the difference in the two incidents is due to the specific personalities of those involved, respect for authority, or lack thereof, between the two cohorts of players is indecipherable but this season Leeds' young squad has bent to the will of Farke in the way that they have adopted his playing style.

After Willy Gnonto's since rescinded transfer request, there have been no further displays of insubordination, unless Charlie Cresswell's public plea for more game-time on social media could be interpreted as such. Although, that was another situation Farke handled with aplomb, refusing to allow the player's frustrations to snowball into a full-blown crisis that red tops in the national media could have turned into mutinous tale.

Headed into the final three games of the Championship season, spirits in Leeds' camp remain high and camaraderie is strong, as it has been throughout 2023/24. Whatever Chelsea go on to achieve this season will likely come to be viewed as the combination of individuals, heavily influenced by 20-goal Palmer, while Leeds' success, still pending, will have been achieved as a collective.