Mauricio Pochettino bites back at Gary Neville "billion-pound bottle jobs" jibe
Mauricio Pochettino hit back at Gary Neville’s “unfair” criticism after the TV pundit branded Chelsea “blue billion-pound bottle jobs.”
As the Blues slumped to their sixth Wembley final defeat in a row, Pochettino struggled to contain his disappointment after the Sky Sports analyst put the boot in. Neville said: “I'm really disappointed with Chelsea in that extra time period. You can lose any game of football but you cannot shrink, you cannot go back - particularly when Liverpool have five kids on the pitch. You have to go for their throat.”
In fact, by the end the average age of Liverpool’s XI was 24.1 years, including three teenagers, while Chelsea’s team was 22.6 years. The Chelsea boss, still to land his first trophy in English football, countered: “I didn’t hear what he said, but if you compare the age of the two groups, I think it is similar.
“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, but it is true we didn’t keep the energy of how we finished the second half.
“I don’t know how you can describe this situation, but for sure I feel proud of the players, I think they made a big effort. We are a young team and (it is) nothing to compare with Liverpool (just) because they finished with also a few young players. I think it’s impossible (to compare the two sides).
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“He (Neville) knows, he knows the dynamics are completely different. I think it’s not fair to talk in this way, if he said that. But I think we are going to keep strong and keep believing in this project and see what we can do in the future.”
With Chelsea listing in the bottom half of the Premier League, a massive 17 points off the top four and seven points adrift of any ticket to European football next season, Pochettino faces a make-or-break FA Cup fifth round date with Leeds at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Chelsea slumped to their sixth consecutive Wembley defeat against Liverpool (Getty Images)What do you think to Gary Nevill's claim? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Pochettino, who was on the losing side against Jurgen Klopp in the 2019 Champions League final with Tottenham, laid the blame for another cup final flop on his side’s woeful finishing. He said: ”We created four, five, six big chances and we didn't score. In a game like today and in a final to score first, it is a big advantage.
"We didn't score and that is a bit of a problem. We conceded in the last minute and it is difficult to react. I feel the same as the players - it is so painful. I have less time to win titles, they are younger than me and I’m sure they have time.
“When you don’t get what you want, always the effort you made over seven eight months disappears so quickly. That is difficult to manage. It is painful. But if we want to win, we have to move on.
“You can’t tell me anything to make me feel better. We need to work more, do better things and to compete at this level against a team that for the last five, six, seven years has been competing for big things.
“It is about arriving here and then feeling what it means to play for a big trophy. After three or four years, Liverpool lost in the Champions League and Europa League finals but they keep believing in the project - and in the next season they were stronger.
“They got what they wanted. They are a really good example. It is not about being frustrated today about not getting a trophy. We need to keep believing, that is the most important thing.”
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