Neville Explains Chelsea’s ‘Billion Pound Bottle Jobs’ Remark: Unveiling Feelings
Gary Neville has shed light on his controversial ‘billion pound bottle jobs’ comment about Chelsea, admitting that it may have been harsh but standing by his assertion that Mauricio Pochettino’s team ‘shrunk’ in their Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool. Neville made the scathing remark after Virgil van Dijk’s dramatic headed goal sealed Liverpool’s record tenth League Cup title in extra time at Wembley. While a young and inexperienced Liverpool team rose to the occasion, Chelsea, who have spent over £1 billion on signings since Todd Boehly’s takeover, appeared to fade.
The former Manchester United right-back’s comments caused a stir among Chelsea supporters, and Pochettino responded during his post-match press conference, suggesting that it was unfair to criticize his team given the similar average age of the two squads. On Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Neville was asked to clarify his statement and revealed his anger at Pochettino’s players for failing to recognize the magnitude of the opportunity they let slip away.
Neville explained that he became increasingly frustrated with Chelsea throughout extra time and criticized their cautious approach, stating that he could sense fear in their play. He highlighted Jurgen Klopp’s growing confidence and the chorus of Liverpool fans singing because they could smell fear in the Chelsea players. Neville emphasized that he wanted Chelsea to seize the moment and not have any regrets, using words like ‘shrunk,’ ‘bottle,’ and ‘froze’ to describe their performance. However, he acknowledged that there are talented young players in the team who may still succeed.
The former footballer felt compelled to express his opinion because he believed Chelsea were effectively playing against Liverpool’s reserves towards the end of extra time. He denied that his use of the term ‘bottle jobs’ implied cowardice, citing examples from his own experience with England teams in tournaments. Neville also referred to Alan Hansen’s criticism of Manchester United’s young team in 1995 and how they proved him wrong by winning trophies that season. He emphasized that performing under scrutiny is a crucial aspect of football at the highest level.
Neville admitted that he questioned whether the term ‘bottle jobs’ was too harsh after the game, but Pochettino’s comments about his team playing for penalties reinforced his belief that they froze under pressure. He clarified that his intention was not to make it more difficult for Chelsea but to deliver lines that he felt instinctively passionate about as a football pundit. Neville expressed his admiration for Pochettino and his hope for Chelsea’s success, but he concluded by stating that their performance in the last half-hour of the final was not good.
In conclusion, Gary Neville has explained his ‘billion pound bottle jobs’ remark about Chelsea, acknowledging that it may have been harsh but standing by his observation that they shrunk in the Carabao Cup final. He expressed his frustration with their cautious approach during extra time and emphasized the need for seizing opportunities in football. While Neville hopes to see Chelsea succeed, he believes their performance in the final was lacking.