Cole Palmer accused of 'being played' by Pep Guardiola as Gary Neville reacts angrily to his jovial chat with former manager after Chelsea's 3-1 loss to Man City

Palmer, who has enjoyed a stellar run of form since the summer of 2023, when he joined Chelsea from Manchester City, had a rare off day as the Blues went down 3-1 against the reigning Premier League champions at the Etihad Stadium. The England international made very little contribution in the match and went missing in the second half when City managed to seal all three points. Despite enduring a defeat in an important fixture, the attacker was spotted sharing a jovial chat with ex-mentor Guardiola after the final whistle.

While analysing the match and Palmer's performance on The Gary Neville Podcast, the Manchester United legend said: "I want to say something about Cole Palmer. He was talking to Pep Guardiola on the pitch right at the end of the game.

"And he was smiling with him and he was... Pep Guardiola does that. (But) Cole, you're being played, you're being played here. You didn't do enough out on that pitch in the second half. He's an amazing player, absolutely brilliant, but you know something... those Chelsea fans that have travelled today, 3,000 to 4,000 over in that far corner, they wanted better than that. They don't really want to see you conversing with the opposition manager and smiling at the end of the game."

Neville further explained why Palmer should have avoided the close chat with Guardiola, as he added: "I'm not being old school here. But there was something about that when I thought, Pep Guardiola is playing you here. I know he's had him, (but) he didn't play him here and he sold him.

"Having a conversation inside I'm not against that. Obviously, he's played for the manager. I just felt at the end something about that I didn't feel was right from a Cole Palmer perspective. I don't look at why Pep Guardiola has done it, that's what Pep Guardiola does but I wouldn't (do that) if I'd lost 3-1 away from home and I'd been as disappointing as that. And Cole Palmer I expected more from him in the second half."

Enzo Maresca's side will be back in action on February 3 as they take on West Ham in another crucial Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge, with Palmer likely to be handed a starting role once again.