Gary Neville criticizes Cole Palmer for Guardiola chat after Chelsea loss

Following Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Manchester City, Gary Neville criticized Cole Palmer for engaging in a jovial post-match conversation with Pep Guardiola on the pitch. Neville expressed that Palmer's demeanor was inappropriate given the circumstances, suggesting that Chelsea fans expected more seriousness after the loss. Palmer, who had a lackluster performance against his former club, had previously struggled for playing time at City before transferring to Chelsea in 2023. Despite his impressive contributions at Chelsea, Neville argued that smiling and chatting with Guardiola, who sold him, undermined the disappointment of the defeat. The match saw Chelsea initially take the lead before City turned the game around with goals from Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden. Palmer's interaction with Guardiola has sparked discussions about player professionalism and loyalty post-match.