EPL: Why Chelsea are no match for Manchester City, United – Gary Neville

A former Manchester United player, Gary Neville, has noted that at the moment, Chelsea are no match for the two Manchester clubs.

The former England defender slammed Chelsea’s transfer policy, adding that the reigning Premier League champions are no longer competing with Manchester City and Manchester United.

Chelsea successfully completed the signing of three players during the January transfer window but the former Manchester United defender noted that the new players are tailored specifically to the needs of Antonio Conte, a manager who appears to be on his way out.

Having won the English title by seven points last season, Chelsea have now fallen 18 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City, and are just two points above fifth-placed Tottenham.

Neville told Sky Sports, “Chelsea, historically, they’re not in for the players City and United are in for now,’ former England defender Neville told Sky Sports.

“You could move Chelsea into that next pack, because they’re not competing with the Manchester clubs at this moment in time.

“I look at these signings, and I look at that transfer window, and I think that could take a couple of years to undo.

“It’s so geared to a system, the five at the back. If something happens to Conte… it’s unlikely that he’ll be there [beyond the end of the season]. A new manager has got to pick up that squad with that system.

“You look at those players, Giroud is there to play as a single striker, Zappacosta wing back, Marcos Alonso wing back, David Luiz one of a back three. You think, it’s tailored to that three as a back.

“You have to unravel quite a lot system-wise, there’s a lot of risk in those signings.”