Gary Neville: Criticise chasing pack before saying Chelsea are boring
Thursday 30 April 2015 18:02, UK
Gary Neville says the critics should get stuck into Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United before accusing Chelsea of being boring.
The Sky Sports pundit was speaking after watching Jose Mourinho’s side beat Leicester 3-1 on Wednesday evening to move within one victory of the Premier League title.
The away fans sarcastically chanted “boring, boring Chelsea” in response to the Arsenal supporters who criticised the team during Sunday’s 0-0 draw at the Emirates – and Neville insists the chasing pack deserve far more negative press for their “pathetic” challenge to Chelsea’s superiority.
“I don’t get it at all,” he told Sky Sports’ Gary Neville Podcast.
“If we’re criticising anybody it should be the pathetic attempt at chasing them this season and putting up a fight.
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“I have to say Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have got to do so much better next season. The last team that we should be criticising are Chelsea. They are the ones that have gone on and done the job.
“They have extended their lead tonight, they are by far in front and they have been by far the best team this season. They haven’t lost a game since New Year’s Day.
“It’s the other teams that should really be criticised. This Chelsea team have done everything you ask of what will be the champion team.”
Chelsea have scored 68 Premier League goals this season and Neville does not feel they are as impressive as the side that won back-to-back titles in Mourinho’s first spell in charge.
He says the Chelsea boss will need to sign more players this summer, but the other big Premier League teams have much harder work to do to close the gap.
Neville added: “If you ask Jose Mourinho he’d say they are a little bit behind what they were back in 2005 and that team that he had, but you still get the feeling it is a growing team and a team that will get better.
“It needs additions again in the summer, but the other teams, make no mistake about it, are the teams with the catching up to do.
“They have got to try to make up that 10 or 15 points that they are going to be behind.
“All teams are looking at the same players. Chelsea have recruited well over the last two years and have been smart.
“Jose Mourinho has won the league three times in five and he is the man to beat. Chelsea are the team to beat and the others have got to chase them down and hunt them down.”
To hear more from Gary Neville, including his views on the relegation scrap and his memories of Manchester United’s 1995 title win, download the Gary Neville Podcast from www.skysports.com/podcast