February 29 – Chelsea Manager Mauricio Pochettino has hit back at Gary Neville’s ‘bottlejobs’ comment after defeating Leeds 3-2 in the FA Cup on Wednesday evening.
Conor Gallagher netted in added time to secure a late victory for the Blues, who are still hurting from their crushing EFL Cup final defeat on Sunday afternoon.
The Argentinian blasted Neville’s comments, made during the Sky Sports coverage of the Cup final on Sunday, which saw Liverpool’s bleak lineup defeat Chelsea’s expensively-assembled team courtesy of a 118th minute winner from skipper Virgil Van Dijk.
The final was broadcast to approximately three million viewers, who will have heard Neville’s ‘blue billion-pound bottlejobs’ remark which has earned the ex-United player a flurry of criticism from Chelsea fans online.
Speaking after the victory at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino said: “Gary my friend, what have you done?”
“With all my love to Gary, I think it’s not fair to use these types of words for a team that is so brave and a club that has shown it can fight for big things.
“Now this type of performance [against Leeds] has shown we can be brave and win games. We just have to keep moving.
“These comments are not important to us, not important to the team, because we know how we are. We know that we are brave, that we work really hard. It’s his opinion, that’s it. We must move on.”
A Leeds fan is also said to be seriously injured after falling from the stand whilst celebrating Fernandez opening goal. He was immediately taken to hospital.
Amid the celebrations in the away end – where visiting teams are given a bigger-than-usual allocation in the FA Cup – Leeds United confirmed an “incident” took place.
“Leeds United can confirm an incident involving a Leeds United supporter occurred in the Shed End of Stamford Bridge during the first half of tonight’s FA Cup game,” it said in a statement.
“The incident is being investigated and is in the hands of the emergency services.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1735072237labto1735072237ofdlr1735072237owedi1735072237sni@g1735072237niwe.1735072237yrrah1735072237