‘I am sick of…’ Gary Neville was left fuming with four Chelsea players against Crystal Palace

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After Chelsea’s emphatic FA Cup win over Aston Villa, it lifted the mood in the camp and eased the pressure on the under-fire Mauricio Pochettino. 

Many agreed that was Chelsea’s best performance under their new boss, but after 45 minutes at Selhurst Park on Monday night, you could hear the noises again.

Yes, Chelsea were dominating possession, but it was Palace who were looking most efficient, with Jefferson Lerma then producing a moment of pure magic to open the scoring.

Gary Neville was left fuming in commentary at how the away team were playing out from the back by stating ‘I am sick of watching defenders pontificate on the ball at the back’, as he told Sky Sports Premier League (12/02/24).

Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell were the ones coming under fire for passing the ball out from the back like they were 2-0 up.

There could be no arguments from Mauricio Pochettino, his team were ponderous and predictable on the ball, with fans fearing that they were seeing the same old, some old.

That’s why Gary Neville was quick to criticise the backline and the team for how they were playing during the first half on Monday night.

Chelsea playing out from the back

“Chelsea have been really bang average,” said Neville. “I am sick of watching defenders pontificate on the ball at the back.

“Pass the ball quickly, get the ball into your midfield players. Get the ball to your wide players. This sort of stuff (passing backwards), no need for it.

“I get the fact if you are 2-0 up, play like this all day long. It’s the possession in the final third that counts.”

Chelsea respond

Yes, those opening 45 minutes weren’t great, but what matters most is the response and it was emphatic from the team in the second half.

From the get-go, Conor Gallagher came back to haunt his former club by, not just equalising straight after the restart, but going on to score the winner in the 90th minute.

Enzo Fernandez added the cherry on the cake, with the second half display far better from Chelsea.

It’s the small matter of taking on Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday, if Chelsea start that game in a similar way, then they will get blown apart.