Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has said Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez would be responsible if Chelsea miss out on the UEFA Champions League next season.
The comments came after the Blues lost 3-0 at home to Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday (April 12). Following a goalless first half, Nico O'Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku struck to put the Blues four points behind fifth-placed Liverpool with six games left.
Fernandez wasn't included in the matchday squad as punishment for his comments hinting at a desire to join Real Madrid in the summer despite being contracted to Stamford Bridge till 2032. Cucurella, meanwhile, was recently critical of the club's leadership and strategic direction.
With the Blues slipping up in the race for the Champions League, Neville reckons the controversial comments by Fernandez and Cucurella could be dragging the club down.
"When you’ve got the two experienced players that they have, demonstrating discontent and saying that the previous manager was good and we’re not sure why it changed," Neville said on the Sky Sports Premier League podcast (as per the Chelsea Chronicle). "I agree, had to be consequences.
"The problem is those two players are still going in the dressing room having an influence and if they’ve got a bottom lip down by their shoe, sulking and slagging the club off, It will be a difficult end to the season."
He added:
"It feels to me now that Chelsea will miss out on Champions League football. I think Chelsea are going to miss out because of what has happened over the last few weeks."
The Blues have now lost three straight games as they look to make up lost ground in the race for Champions League football.
What's next for Chelsea?
The Blues - Source: Getty
The Blues - Source: Getty
Chelsea have work to do to in the race for next season's UEFA Champions League after a potentially damaging heavy home defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League at the weekend.
Having lost four of their last five games - including the last three - Liam Rosenoir's side will look to return to winning ways when they host Manchester United in the league on Saturday (April 18).
The Red Devils are third in the standings, seven points ahead of the Reds, but have won just once in three games, losing one. Their last league outing was a 2-2 draw at AFC Bournemouth last month.