Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville criticized Chelsea star Cole Palmer for his post-match interaction with his former manager, Pep Guardiola, following Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Neville expressed his disapproval of Palmer engaging in conversation and smiling with Guardiola, stating, “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 game.”
The Sky Sports pundit further suggested that Guardiola was intentionally manipulating the situation, saying, “He [Palmer] was smiling with him – Pep Guardiola does that. Cole, you’re being played, you’re being played here. 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 [at City], but he didn’t play him here and he sold him.”
Palmer, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City in the summer, had a mixed performance against his former club.
While he missed a crucial chance to double Chelsea’s lead, he has been a key player for the Blues this season, contributing significantly to their attacking output.
