Even though Kyle Walker was fouled during the game, VAR reversed the call. PGMOL clarified the reasons for not awarding the penalty. There are observers who think English referees are biased against Manchester City and in favor of Chelsea during the title match.
Even though Kyle Walker was fouled during the game, VAR reversed the call. PGMOL clarified the reasons for not awarding the penalty. There are observers who think English referees are biased against Manchester City and in favor of Chelsea during the title match.
Cole Palmer, who wore Manchester City’s uniform for more than ten years, arrived home with Chelsea ahead of the Premier League match. Palmer exuded happiness at being back.
Palmer, 21, attended City’s academy for his early years before transferring to Chelsea in the most recent summer transfer window.
Under Mauricio Pochettino’s tutelage, he has been nothing short of a sensation since joining Chelsea, racking up an incredible record of 14 goals and 9 assists in 31 appearances.
Palmer was greeted warmly by many of his former teammates in the tunnel as he got ready to play for Chelsea against the Premier League champions on his return to his old club.
Palmer shook hands with a number of City players, including Kyle Walker, Rodri, and Erling Haaland, during these pre-game interactions.
Palmer seemed genuinely happy to have these kinds of conversations. However, these actions have not gone unnoticed and have provoked discussions within the Premier League.
Roy Keane, a Sky Sports analyst, is one prominent figure who has criticized these player interactions prior to games. Known for his fierce rivalry when he was a player, Keane has expressed his disapproval of these kinds of cordial conversations.
He often thinks back to the times when athletes saw games as fights with a single goal in mind: winning.
When Keane saw Andre Onana and Aaron Ramsdale embracing in the tunnel prior to Manchester United’s match against Arsenal in September, his criticism became more apparent.
Keane expressed his disappointment at what he saw as a change in player mentality, highlighting the passion and competitive spirit that defined games during his time.
According to Keane, the idea that players would make small talk prior to a hotly contested game is a divergence from the custom of entering games with a warrior-like mindset.
He believes that the competitive spirit and the feeling of facing an enemy have been subverted in modern football in favor of a friendlier environment.
Palmer’s cordial welcome at the Etihad Stadium is a prime example of how the Premier League’s pre-match player interactions are still changing.
Some, like Keane, are happy to see these examples of sportsmanship and teamwork, but others, like him, long for the times when football was associated with intense rivalry and unwavering resolve.
