Following Chelsea’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool, manager Mauricio Pochettino has responded to criticism from pundit Gary Neville, who labelled the Blues “billion-pound bottle jobs” after their loss despite significant financial investment.
Neville’s comments stemmed from Chelsea’s strong performance in regular time, outplaying an injury-hit Liverpool side before conceding a late winner in extra time. While acknowledging the Blues lost momentum after the second half, Pochettino defended his team, highlighting their youth compared to Liverpool’s experienced squad.
“I didn’t hear his exact words, but comparing the age of the two teams says it all,” Pochettino stated. He emphasized the unfairness of the comparison, considering Liverpool only introduced young players towards the end due to injuries.
Pochettino expressed pride in his team’s effort despite the result. “It’s true we lost momentum, but I’m proud of the players who gave it their all,” he said. He also stressed the unfairness of comparing his young squad to a more experienced Liverpool side.
The Argentine manager concluded by emphasizing the importance of learning from the defeat. “They need to feel the pain,” he stated, referring to his players. “We competed for a trophy and lost, so how can I feel any better?” He believes experiencing this disappointment will be crucial for their future development.
