'It's not fair' - Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino hits back at Gary Neville for 'billion-pound bottle-jobs' jab

'Klopp's kids have beaten Chelsea's billion-pound bottle-jobs!' It's a sound byte that will live on in English football history - and certainly a line that Gary Neville seemed proud of himself for coming up with. However, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino was not impressed.

He felt that Neville's remark was 'not fair' noting that, like Liverpool, Chelsea also finished the game with a very young team. In fact, the average age of Chelsea's XI was actually younger than Liverpool's.

Nevertheless, Pochettino said he 'respects' Neville's opinion. It is unclear where this leaves the former Tottenham boss - he has been on a knife edge for a while now and is beginning to run out of chances.

What did Mauricio Pochettino say about Gary Neville's remark?

Speaking after the game, Pochettino said: "I didn’t hear what [Neville] said, but if you compare the age of the two groups, I think it is similar. I have a good relationship with Gary and I don’t know if that’s how I can take this opinion. But I respect his opinion. We made a few changes with [Conor] Gallagher and [Ben] Chilwell in extra time.

"But it is true we didn’t keep the energy of how we finished the second half. I don’t know how you can describe this situation. But I feel proud. I feel proud of the players, I think they made a big effort.

"We are a young team and it is nothing to compare with Liverpool just because they finished with also a few young players. He knows the dynamics are completely different. I think it’s not fair to talk in this way, if he said that. We play for a trophy and we didn’t get it. What can you tell me to feel better? Nothing. They need to feel the pain like us.

"I am so disappointed, it is so painful. I am an older guy that has less time to win titles, they are younger than me and for sure they have time. But if we want to win we have to move on."