Mauricio Pochettino bites back at Gary Neville after the Man United legend called Chelsea ‘billion pound bottlejobs’ for losing the Carabao Cup final to Jurgen Klopp’s injury-hit Liverpool
- The Chelsea manager has hit back at criticism leveled at him by Gary Neville
- Mauricio Pochettino defended Chelsea after Neville branded them ‘bottlejobs’
- If Jürgen Klopp had said he would leave 12 months ago, Mauricio Pochettino would have been a good fit at Liverpool. It’s all Kicking Off podcast
Mauricio Pochettino branded Gary Neville’s claims that Chelsea were ‘billion-pound bottle jobs’ unfair as he urged his players to feel the pain of Wembley heartache.
In his commentary, Neville said: ‘(Jurgen) Klopp’s children are winning the blue billion dollar bottles’ as Liverpool secured an extra time victory thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s header to lift the Carabao Cup.
Chelsea have spent almost £1 billion on transfer fees since taking over Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital in 2022 – and in response to the former Manchester United defender’s claims, Pochettino said: ‘I didn’t hear what he said, but if you age of the two groups, I think it is similar.
‘I have a good relationship with Gary and I don’t know if I can take this view that way. But I respect his opinion.
“Obviously we made a few changes in extra time with (Conor) Gallagher and (Ben) Chilwell, it’s true we didn’t keep the energy of how we finished the second half.
Mauricio Pochettino branded Gary Neville’s claims that Chelsea ‘billion pound bottle jobs’ are unfair
Chelsea had to deal with Liverpool deep into extra time in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday
Neville harshly described Chelsea as ‘billion pound bottlejobs’ after Liverpool’s goal
‘But I’m certainly proud. I am proud of the players, I think they have made a great effort. We are a young team and nothing compares to Liverpool (just) because they are also ready with some young players. I think it’s impossible (to compare the two sides).
‘He (Neville) knows the dynamic is completely different. I don’t think it’s fair to talk like this when he says so.’
Pochettino also called on his stars to take the disappointment of their eventual defeat firmly on the chin, while also admitting he is running out of time to win his first trophy in England.
The 51-year-old added: “We are playing for a trophy but we didn’t get it.
“There’s nothing you can tell me that will make them feel better. They must feel the pain just like we do.
“We have to work more, do better things and compete at this level against a team that has been competing for big things for the last five to six years.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk scored the late winner for his side in the Carabao Cup final
Pochettino believes his Chelsea side have ‘a completely different dynamic’ to Liverpool
‘Some leadership on the field helps. I have the same feeling as the players. It’s so painful.
‘I have less time to win titles, they are younger than me and they certainly have time.
“When you don’t get what you want, the effort you put in for seven or eight months always disappears so quickly.
‘That is difficult to manage. It is painful. But if we want to win, we have to move on.”
