engaging in a post-match conversation with Guardiola right after Chelsea’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City on Saturday night.
Chelsea started strong at the Etihad Stadium, with Nicolas Jackson capitalizing on an error by City’s new £33.6 million signing Abdukodir Khusanov, allowing Noni Madueke to score from close range.
However, Josko Gvardiol equalized before halftime, and City took the lead after the break when Erling Haaland pounced on another mistake by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Phil Foden later sealed the win for City, bringing them up to fourth place in the table, while Chelsea trails just a point behind in sixth place.
Palmer struggled against his former club, and after the final whistle, the 22-year-old was seen smiling and chatting with Guardiola on the pitch.
Neville was not pleased with Palmer’s interaction with Guardiola, warning the Chelsea midfielder that he was being played.
‘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, Pep Guardiola does that,’ Neville told Sky Sports.
‘Cole, you’re being played, you’re being played here, you didn’t do enough out on that pitch in the second half.
‘He’s an amazing player, absolutely brilliant, but you know something, 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 had 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. But I just felt at the end there’s something about it I didn’t feel was right from a Cole Palmer perspective.
‘I know why Pep Guardiola’s done it, that’s what Pep Guardiola does, but if I’d lost 3-1 away from home and had been as disappointed as I am and Cole Palmer, I expected more from him in the second half.’
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