Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has blasted Premier League pundit and Manchester United legend Gary Neville for an ‘unfair’ Chelsea jibe after the Blues’ Carabao Cup final loss to Liverpool.
In a comment that has gone viral, Gary Neville described Chelsea players as ‘a billion-pound bottlejob’ who could not take down Liverpool’s kid at Wembley.
Reacting to the comment, Mauricio Pochettino described Gary Neville’s comment as ‘unfair’ as the two teams paraded players of virtually the same age at Wembley
“I have a good relationship with Gary and I don’t know if that’s how I can take this opinion. But I respect his opinion.
‘Of course, we made a few changes with [Conor] Gallagher and [Ben] Chilwell in extra time, it is true we didn’t keep the energy of how we finished the second half
“He (Neville) knows the dynamics are completely different. I think it’s not fair to talk in this way if he said that,’ Pochettino said.
Chelsea had more chances in the game than Liverpool but failed to convert them. Conor Gallagher came one-on-one with Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher twice.
Nicolas Jackson had a chance to put the Blues in front before being overrun by Ibrahim Konate.
The Blues recorded 5 big chances against Liverpool’s one, before being punished with a late header by Virgil van Dijk in the 128th minute.
Despite grappling with a piling injury list involving top players in the squad, Liverpool had their way against Chelsea.
Jurgen Klopp brought on academy stars in the final minutes of the game before Virgil van Dijk’s late winner.
Gary Neville believed a star-studded Chelsea side with a squad value exceeding a billion pounds would have done more to defeat Liverpool’s injury-stricken squad.
