Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has drawn criticism from Gary Neville following his post-match exchange with Pep Guardiola after the Blues’ 3-1 defeat to Manchester City, MySportDab Reports.
Despite an early lead at the Etihad, Chelsea struggled to match City’s intensity, falling behind to goals from Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden.
The loss marked Chelsea’s fourth consecutive away game without a win in the Premier League, further complicating their Champions League qualification hopes.
Their initial bright start came courtesy of Noni Madueke, who capitalized on a defensive error by Abdukodir Khusanov in the third minute. However, City dominated for much of the game, leaving Chelsea with little room to respond.
Palmer, who has been one of Chelsea’s standout performers this season, was notably subdued against his former club. The England international managed only one shot (0.07 xG) and created just one chance, despite completing a team-high 14 passes in the final third.
After the final whistle, Palmer was seen smiling and chatting with Guardiola, who sold him to Chelsea in 2023 due to limited opportunities at City. Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, questioned the optics of Palmer’s actions.
“He’s an amazing player, but the Chelsea fans who traveled today expected more,” Neville said. “They don’t want to see him smiling and chatting with the opposition manager after a 3-1 loss. It didn’t sit right with me.”
Neville suggested Guardiola’s actions might have been calculated, saying, “Pep does that, but Palmer should focus on delivering more during the game.”
Palmer’s performance and post-match conduct have now become a talking point among Chelsea fans, with some questioning his commitment in a crucial fixture.
