'You're being played' – Neville criticises Palmer over Guardiola chat

Cole Palmer has come under fire from Gary Neville over his chat with Pep Guardiola in the wake of Chelsea's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City.

Chelsea had the chance to pull five points clear of their rivals for Champions League qualification on Saturday and took a third-minute lead when Noni Madueke profited from an Abdukodir Khusanov mistake.

However, the Blues were comfortably second-best for long periods and goals from Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden gave City a much-needed win in the top-four race.

Having won six of their first eight away league games under Enzo Maresca (one draw, one loss), Chelsea have now failed to win four in a row on the road (two draws, two losses).

Their star man Palmer was uncharacteristically quiet, only attempting one shot valued at 0.07 expected goals (xG) and creating just one chance despite playing a team-high 14 passes in the final third.

He was seen chatting to Guardiola – who sold the England international after failing to guarantee him regular minutes in 2023 – at full-time, and Neville thinks that might have irked Chelsea's supporters.

"I want to say something about Cole Palmer, he was talking to Pep Guardiola on the pitch right at the end of the game and he was smiling with him, Guardiola does that," Neville told Sky Sports.

"Cole, you're being played here, you didn't do enough out on that pitch in the second half.

Victorious against Chelsea! Tune in to Matchday Live for all the reaction! https://t.co/hS47I92ObH
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 25, 2025

"He's an amazing player, absolutely brilliant, but those Chelsea fans that travelled today, the 3,000 or 4,000 in that far corner wanted better than that.

"They don't really want to see you conversing with your opposition manager and smiling at the end of the game. I'm not being old-school here, but there's something about that.

"I thought, 'Pep Guardiola's playing you here', I know he's managed him, but he didn't play him here and he sold him.

"Having a conversation inside, I'm not against that, obviously he's played for the manager. There's something about it I didn't feel was right from Cole Palmer's perspective.

"I know why Pep Guardiola’s done it, that's what Pep does, but if I'd lost 3-1 away from home and had been as disappointed as Cole Palmer... I expected more from him."