Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has once again criticized Gary Neville for his “billion-pound bottle jobs” remark following the Carabao Cup final defeat last weekend.
After Liverpool clinched their first trophy of the season with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley, Neville, while on commentary duty for Sky Sports, heavily criticized Pochettino’s team for their performance and made the controversial comment.
Pochettino defended his team’s display, deeming Neville’s assessment overly harsh. Following Chelsea’s 3-2 triumph over Leeds United in the FA Cup, Pochettino revisited the topic.
In an interview with ITV (via Metro), he stated:
“I believe Gary [Neville], my friend, was frustrated due to Liverpool’s triumph in another title. That’s the reality. I think it’s unfair to cast such accusations against a team that is still very young. The expectations are high because we are Chelsea, but this team requires time to develop and gain confidence. Unity is gradually forming, but it’s not an instantaneous process.”
During the subsequent post-match press conference, Pochettino reiterated:
“Gary, my dear friend, your recent remarks have been circulating widely. While I respect Gary, I cannot agree with his assessment. It’s unfair to use such language. This club always strives for significant achievements.”
