The Blues suffered a 1-0 loss to an injury-plagued Liverpool side at Wembley. Despite initial optimism among Chelsea supporters after learning about the absence of Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, their hopes were dashed as the match progressed.
Jurgen Klopp was compelled to introduce several lesser-known academy players during the latter stages of the game and extra time, yet his team emerged victorious.
Virgil van Dijk’s header from a corner secured a remarkable win, leaving Chelsea reeling from the disappointment.
This defeat marked the London club’s initial opportunity to clinch a trophy under new owner Todd Boehly, who has poured an estimated £1 billion into bolstering the playing squad.
Neville expressed his dismay as the match approached its conclusion, remarking during commentary: “Klopp’s youthful squad prevailing against Chelsea’s high-priced underachievers.”
Boehly assumed control of Chelsea in the summer of 2022 and has since shattered spending records in both the summer and winter transfer windows.
The club also splurged on record-breaking transfers for Enzo Fernandez (£105 million) and Moises Caicedo (£115 million).
However, despite their hefty investments, Chelsea’s star players failed to make an impact against relative newcomers Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns, and James McConnell, who had only a few senior appearances between them.
To back up Neville’s point even further, Chelsea are the first English team to lose six consecutive domestic cup finals.
