'Cheap shot really' - Gary Neville makes surprise admission about his savage 'billion pound bottle jobs' criticism of Chelsea

The critical remark came after the Blues, then managed by Mauricio Pochettino, squandered multiple opportunities in a tightly-contested Carabao Cup final at Wembley, ultimately losing to a late extra-time goal from Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk. However, Chelsea’s resurgence under new manager Enzo Maresca has silenced many critics, including Neville himself.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Neville admitted his words were overly harsh and acknowledged the lasting impact such comments can have.

"I wish I had not said 'billion-dollar bottle jobs'. They're harsh lines that stain a group of players or a manager," he admitted. "David Luiz has never got rid of that. It's a cheap shot really. It's that line of humour meets cheap shot."

Neville's recent comments mark a stark contrast to his initial assessment of Chelsea’s performance last season as he later doubled down on his criticism of both the players and the manager, suggesting that the team froze under pressure.

"I was actually going to do a roll back on my podcast, the day after, and say that I shouldn't have probably used that word 'bottle,' but when I heard that Mauricio thought the team were playing for penalties, I thought that it was the epitome of freezing," he had stated.

After a summer of upheaval that saw the dismissal of Pochettino following a single season, the Blues have emerged as serious contenders for the Premier League title. They currently sit just two points behind leaders Liverpool, riding high on a seven-game winning streak in all competitions. This dramatic turnaround has been credited to Maresca, whose tactical acumen and ability to galvanize the squad have earned widespread praise. The club's lavish spending under American co-owner Todd Boehly, which previously drew scepticism, now appears to be bearing fruit.

With their recent performances, the Blues have demonstrated a level of consistency and resilience that many thought was beyond them after last season's struggles. But Chelsea's current momentum under Maresca will face further tests before they end 2024. On Thursday, they are set to compete in a Conference League match against Shamrock Rovers before returning to Premier League action against Everton on Sunday. On Boxing Day, they play Fulham at Stamford Bridge and will travel to Ipswich Town before ending the year.