FINAL INSULT

Chalobah admits Nev criticism was tough to take after pain of defeat as former United star 'rolls back' in bottlegate war of words

- JOHN CROSS

CHELSEA'S Trevoh Chalobah has admitted the pain of losing the Carabao Cup final was made worse by biting criticism from Gary Neville.

But the Blues defender revealed heart-to-heart talks among players and staff this week brought the club together before reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Conor Gallagher's 90th-minute winner against Leeds kept alive Chelsea's hopes of silverware and qualifying for Europe this season.

The win followed the extratime defeat to Liverpool at Wembley when Sky pundit Neville branded the Blues "billion pound bottle jobs".

Former Chelsea trainee Chalobah said: "The last few days have been really tough. You could just see after the game as well in the changing room that everyone was so down. It was silent.