Gary Neville has been outspoken about Chelsea’s disappointing performance in their 3-1 loss to Manchester City, directing criticism at four key players for their failure to seize crucial moments in the match.
The Blues’ recent form has raised alarms, with their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League now in serious jeopardy as they slip out of the Premier League’s top five. After an impressive start to the season that led some to believe they were title contenders, Chelsea’s fortunes have taken a turn, having won only once in their last seven matches.
Chelsea initially seemed poised to take control of the game when Noni Madueke scored early on. With Manchester City vulnerable, especially following a shaky performance by new signing Abdukodir Khusanov, the Blues had the opportunity to extend their lead. However, they failed to capitalize on this early advantage, allowing City to regroup and ultimately secure the win. Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden all found the net to complete the comeback, as Manchester City regained their form after a recent dip.
Gary Neville, speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, expressed his frustration with Chelsea’s inability to adapt to the changing dynamics of the game. He highlighted the talent on the pitch but criticized the team’s lack of flexibility, particularly during the opening stages. Neville pointed out that, despite the early opportunity to go 2-0 up, Chelsea couldn’t adjust their tactics when they sensed weakness in City’s defense. He emphasized the importance of adapting to the game state, especially when facing a vulnerable opponent, but Chelsea’s players seemed unable to switch gears.
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Among those Neville singled out were Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Reece James. He criticized their failure to take control when the game was still in their favor, believing they should have gone for the jugular against City’s struggling defenders, including Khusanov, who had made a crucial error leading to Chelsea’s opener. Neville noted that the likes of Caicedo and Fernandez, with their experience, should have sensed the moment and pushed the attack, rather than playing within a pre-established game plan that became irrelevant as the match progressed.
The early moments of the match saw City in disarray, with Khusanov’s mistake leading to Chelsea’s goal. However, despite the vulnerability of the City defense, Chelsea failed to exploit it. Neville lamented that Chelsea allowed City to regain their composure, which ultimately cost them the game. He described the situation as a missed opportunity, pointing to a lack of mental sharpness and a reluctance to press when it was most needed.
The match also saw more criticism directed at Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez. His error in allowing Haaland to score added to a growing list of mistakes this season, with Sanchez now having committed the most errors leading to goals in the Premier League. Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s head coach, suggested that Sanchez’s position as the team’s number one could be in jeopardy. Although Maresca reaffirmed his trust in Sanchez, he acknowledged the goalkeeper’s mistakes and hinted that a change might be made before Chelsea’s next matches.
