Mauricio Pochettino says he respects Gary Neville’s opinion however believes the Sky Sports activities tv pundit’s fierce criticism of his Chelsea facet within the Carabao Cup ultimate defeat to Liverpool was unfair.
Neville was massively disenchanted in Chelsea’s strategy to extra-time earlier than labelling Pochettino’s expensively-assembled facet “blue billion-pound bottlejobs” within the moments after Virgil van Dijk’s 118th-minute winner at Wembley Stadium.
Pochettino acknowledged Neville’s feedback after the sport and admitted his staff’s vitality did drop within the further interval whereas a youthful Liverpool discovered one other gear.
Gary Neville didn’t maintain again in his chastisement of Chelsea after #CFC fell in further time to a younger Liverpool facet.
By way of @SkySports pic.twitter.com/LHapCmLMwd
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 25, 2024
“I didn’t hear what he mentioned however if you happen to examine the age of the 2 teams, I believe it’s comparable,” Pochettino mentioned. “I’ve an excellent relationship with Gary. I can respect his opinion.
“We made a number of modifications, like (Conor) Gallagher and (Ben) Chilwell in extra-time. But it surely’s true, we didn’t hold the vitality how we completed the second-half.
“For certain I really feel proud. They made an enormous effort. We’ve got a younger staff, and nothing to check with Liverpool as a result of they completed with younger gamers on the pitch.
“It’s not truthful to speak on this means, if he mentioned that. We’re going to maintain being robust and believing on this venture.”
Chelsea completed the 90 minutes the stronger staff and had probabilities to win the sport solely to be denied by an impressed efficiency from Caoimhin Kelleher within the Liverpool objective.
Pochettino was compelled to withdraw two of his senior gamers in extra-time and admits his facet had one eye on a penalty shootout earlier than Van Dijk’s late winner.
“Look, after all it was tough. In fact after we’re annoyed. The gamers really feel the frustration,” he mentioned.
“We had been so near profitable the sport after 90 minutes. They began to lose their vitality. Chilly felt actually, actually drained. Gallagher, after 5 minutes, we would have liked to vary.
“The staff felt possibly the penalties could be good for us. The trouble was huge. I’m pleased with the hassle. It’s about protecting believing in that. We didn’t get the reward we needed.”
GO DEEPER
The Briefing: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1: Van Dijk’s essential objective, a ‘technical offside’ and Chelsea’s missed alternative
(Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC by way of Getty Photos)
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