Gary Neville: Chelsea could have cost Champions League spot with ‘frustrating’ response in Man City defeat | Football News happymamay

Gary Neville was frustrated by Chelsea’s lack of response after half-time as Manchester City came from behind to beat them 3-1 in a defeat he feels could damage their Champions League hopes.

Chelsea took a third-minute lead at the Etihad Stadium through Noni Madueke and would have been 2-0 up had it not been for an errant pass from Cole Palmer with Nicholas Jackson waiting to pounce.

But after City came back and Jusko Gvardiol equalized three minutes before the end of the first half, the hosts took control of the match in the second half, as Chelsea recorded only one shot on target, with a percentage of 0.18 compared to 1.62 in the first half.

talking on Gary Neville PodcastNeville has revealed his annoyance at Chelsea’s big-money midfield’s failure to take control of the game after half-time – and why it could cost them a Champions League place, with the Blues now sixth in the Premier League.

“I was expecting Chelsea to come out quickly in the second half because I was expecting that [Enzo] Maresca in the first half to earn the right to allow City back into the game. “I didn’t see the response,” he said.

“Two midfielders [Caicedo and Fernandez] You are the players who cost a lot of money, you carry a lot of costs, you have a great reputation, and you are good players.

“Great players coming forward, taking the lead and grabbing the game by the neck. With Palmer in midfield they didn’t do that, so I’m very disappointed with Chelsea in the second half.

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Neville said it was too early to say whether Manchester City were back to their best but admitted you won’t keep Pep Guardiola down for long.

“I’m not going at them because I think they’ve had a really good season, but I’m really disappointed with what I’ve seen, because I think they’ll look back and think you could have done more.” – This is the worst feeling.

“It could cost them the Champions League next season. They should have sent a message to Manchester City and they didn’t. I’m not a Chelsea fan but I’m a football fan and I’ll be exhausted by my team.” “

“Pep Palmer played after the game.”

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Free viewing: Highlights of the Manchester City vs. Chelsea match in the English Premier League

Neville touched on a textbook move from Pep Guardiola after the match, when the City boss approached his former player Cole Palmer for a catch up to the pitch as both men were seen smiling during a deep conversation as they headed into the tunnel.

The former Manchester United captain was less than impressed that Palmer had been “played off” by his former boss on the back of his current side’s recent defeat – and extended his poor run of form to one win in seven in the Premier League.

“Cole, you’re being manipulated here,” Neville said.

Monday, February 3 at 6:30 p.m

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“You didn’t do enough on that pitch in the second half and he’s a fantastic player. But you know, the Chelsea fans who traveled today, three or four thousand in that far corner, don’t really do that.” I want to see you talking to the opposition manager and smiling at the end of the match.

“And I’m not old school here but there’s something about it. I thought, ‘Pep Guardiola is playing you here.’

“I know he had it but he didn’t play with it and he sold it, so he should have shrugged it off and gone straight back to the dressing room. Have a conversation inside the dressing room, I’m not against that – obviously it’s a game for the manager but I felt in the end there was Something about it didn’t feel right from Cole Palmer’s perspective.

“I know why Pep Guardiola did that – that’s what Pep Guardiola does, but I wouldn’t do it if I lost 3-1 away from home. I expected more from him in the second half.”

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