Pochettino responds to Neville's BRUTAL new Chelsea nickname

Cameron Smith

• 25 Feb 2024 21:32 GMT
• 4 min read

Mauricio Pochettino has responded to Gary Neville’s description of Chelsea as “Blue Billion Pound Bottlejobs,” following their Carabao Cup final defeat.

Chelsea were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool during the Carabao Cup final thanks to an extra-time header by Virgil van Dijk.

Blues fans have expressed their anger at Pochettino on social media, lamenting the fact that they were unable to beat a Liverpool side depleted by injuries and reliant on young academy players.

After Van Dijk nodded home Kostas Tsimikas’ late corner, Neville produced a line of commentary that has gone viral on X.

When the Dutchman’s header nestled into the far corner of Djordje Petrovic’s net, Neville said: “It's Klopp's kids against The Blue Billion Pound Bottlejobs. I don’t have any sympathy for Chelsea.”

What has Mauricio Pochettino said?

The Chelsea boss was questioned about Neville’s comment during his post-match press conference and he replied (as per The Daily Mail): “I didn’t hear what he said, but if you compare the age of the two groups, I think it is similar.

“I have a good relationship with Gary and I don’t know if that’s how I can take this opinion. But I respect his opinion.

“Of course, we made a few changes with [Conor] Gallagher and [Ben] Chilwell [going off] in extra time. But it is true we didn’t keep the energy of how we finished the second half.

"I don’t know how you can describe this situation. But for sure I feel proud. I feel proud of the players, I think they made a big effort.

"We are a young team and [it is] nothing to compare with Liverpool [just] because they finished with also a few young players. I think it’s impossible [to compare the two sides].

"[Neville] knows, he knows the dynamics are completely different. We were playing today, Liverpool and Chelsea.

"I think it’s not fair to talk in this way if he said that. But I think we are going to keep strong and keep believing in this project and see what we can do in the future.”

Pochettino went on to compare his side’s struggles with the ones faced by Jurgen Klopp during the early years of his Liverpool tenure.

“To compete at this level against a team that is in the last five, six, seven years is competing for big things, it is about to arrive here first and then feel what it means to play for a big trophy,” Pochettino said.

“I remember after three or four years Liverpool lose the Champions League [Final], they lose the Europa League [Final], and they believe in the project.

“They were in the next seasons stronger until they got what they wanted. That is a good example if we want to challenge a team like Liverpool. It is not to be frustrated today because we didn’t win the trophy. It is about to take the example that we need to keep believing.”