“Problems, from what i have seen now..” Gary Neville changes his mind on who will finish fourth Tottenham or Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have both endured a disappointing start to the new Premier League season, leaving both clubs feeling deflated. As the season began, these two London giants had high hopes of finishing in the top four and securing a coveted spot in the Champions League. Despite their underwhelming starts, both clubs will still have aspirations of achieving this goal.
Chelsea suffered a home defeat at the hands of Manchester City, while Tottenham could only manage a 1-1 draw away at newly-promoted Leicester City. Spurs had initially taken the lead and looked promising in the first half, but their inability to secure all three points has raised concerns.
In the aftermath of these results, football pundit Gary Neville made his predictions for the top four, which included some surprising choices, most notably leaving out Liverpool. Jamie Carragher, another prominent football analyst, has already criticized Neville for his predictions regarding Liverpool and Manchester United. However, Carragher was further taken aback when Neville revealed his change of heart over who would finish fourth – Chelsea or Spurs.
Neville, a former right-back, acknowledged that Chelsea have a stronger squad on paper, especially considering the club has spent over £1 billion on new signings. However, he also pointed out the unpredictability at Stamford Bridge this season, following the exit of Mauricio Pochettino, the arrival of Enzo Maresca as head coach, and a host of new players joining the squad.
Given all these factors, one might expect Neville to back Tottenham to secure fourth place, especially after their close fifth-place finish last season, just behind Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. However, Neville believes that Spurs will fall short, citing concerns about the team’s bench strength and depth. He mentioned these issues while speaking to Sky Sports, highlighting that while Tottenham made some key signings, including Archie Gray, who made an appearance at the King Power Stadium, their lack of experienced depth could be a decisive factor.
Neville’s skepticism about Tottenham’s chances led him to back Chelsea for the fourth spot, despite the turmoil surrounding the club. During a discussion about the top four, Jamie Carragher expressed surprise at Neville’s choice of Chelsea, especially given their recent struggles. Carragher questioned Neville’s change of heart, asking if it was prompted by Tottenham’s draw against Leicester. Neville explained that he wasn’t entirely convinced earlier in the day but ultimately decided that Chelsea’s squad depth gave them the edge, despite the bizarre happenings at the club.
The debate over who will finish in the top four remains intense, with Carragher noting that Chelsea have spent a significant amount on their squad, which should, in theory, give them an advantage. However, he also raised doubts about whether Chelsea can achieve the necessary cohesion and togetherness, qualities that Tottenham, under the leadership of Ange Postecoglou, might possess in greater abundance.
Tottenham’s acquisition of Dominic Solanke for a club-record fee further complicates the discussion. Solanke made his debut against Leicester and showed promise, leading some to believe that he would easily fit into Chelsea’s starting XI. There are certain individual players from Tottenham that Chelsea fans might covet, but the challenge for both clubs will be to bring their squads together and create a cohesive unit capable of competing at the highest level. As the season progresses, the race for the top four is sure to be fiercely contested, with every point potentially making the difference.
