Former Manchester United defender and prominent pundit Gary Neville has delivered a stark assessment of Chelsea's title credentials, insisting the Blues are 'miles away' from being genuine Premier League contenders.
Neville's Verdict After Leeds Defeat
Neville's comments follow Chelsea's 3-1 defeat away to Leeds United on Wednesday night, a result that left manager Enzo Maresca's side trailing league leaders Arsenal by nine points. The loss was a significant setback after a promising run of form, which included three consecutive wins and an impressive 1-1 draw with Arsenal last weekend that had some tipping Chelsea as the Gunners' closest rivals.
Speaking on his Gary Neville Podcast, the Sky Sports analyst was unequivocal. 'I've never bought into this, 'Chelsea are going to challenge for the title',' he stated. While backing the club for a top-four finish, Neville identified a critical weakness in the squad's spine.
The Three Critical Weaknesses
Neville argued that Chelsea currently lack the quality in three fundamental areas required to win a championship. 'They haven't got the goalkeeper for it, they haven't got the centre-backs for it, and they haven't got the centre-forwards for it,' he declared.
He expanded on his critique by pointing to Chelsea's performance at Elland Road, suggesting they were ill-equipped for the physical demands of a Premier League campaign, especially during the winter months. 'They didn't have the beef on the pitch to handle Leeds' muscle, it's as simple as that, they were out-muscled, out-fought, out-run,' Neville said.
He also criticised the team's approach, highlighting slow, ponderous build-up play. 'You have a mountain of passes... that was driving me crazy,' he said, arguing it played into Leeds' hands.
Title-Winning DNA is Missing
Drawing on his experience, Neville emphasised the blend of qualities needed to lift the trophy. 'Chelsea fans will know what a title-winning team looks like. They've won plenty of them,' he said. 'They've seen the physicality and the durability you need to win the league, it's not all about playing football.'
He concluded that despite the enormous investment in the squad and the presence of individual talent, the core ingredients are absent. 'The spine is not good enough... they're nowhere near a title-winning team, they're nowhere near.' For Neville, the dream of a first Chelsea title since 2017 remains distant based on the current evidence.
