Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has hit out at reigning Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea for their sluggish start to the defence of their crown.
The Blues head into the international break having picked up just four points from their opening four games of the new season and suffered their second defeat of the campaign against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon in manager Jose Mourinho’s 100th home game in charge of the club.
The defeat came hot on the heels of their first win of the season against West Brom a week ago and they now sit eight points behind current league leaders Manchester City, who beat newly promoted Watford at the weekend.
Neville, speaking on Sky Sports programming Super Sunday, criticised the current group of Blues players and admitted he’s concerned about their poor start:
“We refused to believe on Monday Night Football a couple of weeks ago that there were big problems, that it was just a bad start to the season,” the former Manchester United defender said [via Express Sport].
“But I have to say that, listening to Jose Mourinho after the game saying how concerned he was, I’d be concerned now.”
“The players need to give themselves a slap around the face.”
“I don’t know what it is at this moment in time, but I think the international break has come at a good time for Chelsea. It’ll allow them all just to get away and reassess what’s going on,” Neville added.
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The West London outfit are next in action on September 12 when they face a tricky encounter against Everton at Goodison Park.