CHELSEA broke an unwanted record with their Carabao Cup final defeat – proving that Gary Neville’s “billion pound bottlejobs” rant was correct.
The Blues wasted a flurry of chances as they lost Sunday’s showpiece event 1-0 to Liverpool.
Virgil van Dijk scored a 118th minute winner following big misses from Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
And it saw Sky Sports pundit Neville lay into Chelsea at the final whistle.
He declared live on air: “In extra time it’s been Klopp’s kids against the blue, billion-pound bottlejobs.
“Liverpool have been absolutely sensational. These young players have been incredible, Klopp must be so proud.
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“However, for Chelsea, I have no sympathy for them whatsoever. Mauricio Pochettino’s players have shrunk, they’ve shrunk right in front of our eyes and in front of their fans.”
Indeed, in losing to Liverpool, Chelsea set a new record for most domestic cup finals lost in a row.
The Blues have now been defeated in SIX consecutive FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals in a run stretching back to 2019.
That year, they were beaten on penalties by Manchester City following a 0-0 draw under the arches.
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Maurizio Sarri was in charge at the time, and the game featured the infamous moment goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to be subbed off before the shootout.
The following year, under Frank Lampard, Chelsea lost the FA Cup final 2-1 to Arsenal – despite going ahead in the fifth minute.
A year later, Chelsea were defeated in another FA Cup final.
Thomas Tuchel lost 1-0 to Leicester just two weeks before winning the Champions league.
But it was not to be the German’s last taste of defeat in England.
In 2022, he lost not one but TWO finals to Liverpool on penalties.
The first came in the Carabao Cup final after a goalless draw.
And following a stalemate in the FA Cup, Tuchel’s Blues lost that one in a shootout as well.
But Sunday’s defeat marked a record sixth consecutive domestic cup final loss for Chelsea.
It was also their third domestic cup final defeat in a row against Liverpool, who they were also hammered by 4-1 in the Premier League this month.
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In total, Chelsea scored just ONCE across their six final defeats.
And Pochettino has been left sweating over his future after also blowing automatic qualification for next season’s Europa Conference League.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
