Billion-pound bottlejobs: Neville slams Chelsea following Carabao Cup final loss
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has slammed Chelsea’s performance in the 2023/24 Carabao Cup final, calling them billion-pound bottlejobs. Liverpool beat Chelsea 1-0 to win the Carabao Cup for the 10th time in their history.
Chelsea became the first English side to lose six back-to-back Cup finals. Liverpool skipper Virgil Van Dijk towered over the Chelsea defence to seal the win for his side in the 118th minute. The Dutch defender converted a Kostas Tsimikas corner to give Liverpool a late lead, having been denied an earlier goal by VAR due to offside.
Speaking to Sky Sports after Liverpool’s win, Neville said Jurgen Klopp’s kids against the billion-pound bottlejobs, insisting that Chelsea players shrunk in front of their fans. Chelsea, who have spent over GBP 1 billion under the new ownership came up against a Liverpool team deprived of their best players but couldn’t get the job done in the Carabao Cup final.
“In extra-time it’s been Klopp’s kids against the blue, billion-pound bottlejobs. Liverpool have been absolutely sensational. Those young players have been incredible. Klopp must be so proud. However, for Chelsea, I have no sympathy for them whatsoever. Mauricio Pochettino’s players have shrunk. They have shrunk right in front of our eyes and in front of their fans,” said Neville.
He went on to say that Chelsea players did not turn up in extra-time, while Liverpool grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. Pochettino, who has managed Southampton, Tottenham and now Chelsea, has never won a trophy in England.
“The Chelsea players will regret that extra-time for a long, long time. I thought they played quite well and punched hard in normal time. They were a little unlucky. But in the real crux of the game in extra-time, where they had Liverpool by the scruff of the neck with those young kids, Chelsea didn’t turn up. They didn’t perform,” Neville added.
Sunday’s loss was Pochettino’s 35th game incharge of the Blues, having delivered just 16 wins in his tenure. Chelsea currently sits 11th in the Premier League, managing just 35 points in 25 matches, winning 10, losing 10 and drawing five matches.
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