Redaction Willow Austin with Metro Sport Reporter
Published on 2024-02-26 08:49:15
Fans are convinced that Manchester City aimed a dig at former player Cole Palmer after Chelsea were beaten in extra-time in the final of the Carabao Cup against Liverpool. The west Londoners were second best for much of the first half at Wembley but had a great opportunity to open the scoring through Palmer only for the youngster to be denied by Caoimhin Kelleher. Both teams hit the woodwork on multiple occasions in a frantic and end-to-end contest, and Palmer was again involved in a late goal-mouth scramble that Liverpool somehow survived.
Chelsea seemed to have a young and injury-hit Liverpool side on the ropes towards the end of the 90 minutes, but they sat off in extra-time as the Merseysiders re-took control of the contest. Mauricio Pochettino’s side were punished for their passiveness in the 118th minute, with Virgil van Dijk rising highest to glance home a corner and secure a 1-0 win. Within minutes of the final whistle being blown, City posted a tweet on social media platform Twitter that caused quite a stir.
Palmer, who used to play at the Etihad, has earned the nickname ‘Cold Palmer’ this season thanks to his composure and coolness under pressure. He has even adopted a celebration to go alongside his nickname, putting his hands under his armpits and pretending to shiver. So when City sent out a tweet just as Palmer was collecting his runners-up medal with three ‘freezing’ emojis alongside a picture of Phil Foden standing in a cryotherapy chamber, it caused quite a commotion. To make things even more pointed, Foden had his hands tucked under his armpits – the very pose Palmer has become noted for and which he did when he scored against City from the spot at Stamford Bridge.
The tweet, whether deliberate or purely coincidental, went viral – racking up 2.8 million views – and was taken by many fans to be a dig at Palmer. While City supporters praised the account for ‘trolling’ Palmer, others suggested it was poor form to be digging out a player who spent over a decade at the club, first joining at under-eight level.
Chelsea and Palmer only have a couple of days to lick their wounds before taking on Leeds United in the FA Cup on Wednesday, while Manchester City are away at Luton Town in their own fifth-round tie. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The incident sparked a debate among fans, with some finding it humorous while others saw it as disrespectful towards Palmer. Regardless of the intention behind the tweet, it certainly got people talking and added an extra layer of intrigue to the post-match analysis.
Despite the disappointment of losing in the final, Chelsea and Palmer will need to quickly refocus as they have another important game coming up. The FA Cup tie against Leeds United will provide them with an opportunity to bounce back and show their resilience in the face of adversity.
In conclusion, the tweet from Manchester City may have caused controversy, but it also highlighted the passion and rivalry that exists in football. Whether intentional or not, it served as a talking point and added an extra layer of drama to an already intense final. As the two teams move on to their next challenges, the memory of this incident will linger as a reminder of the emotions that football can evoke.
Read Original article on Metro Sport
