Gary Neville has expressed regret over a harsh comment he made about former Chelsea and Arsenal defender David Luiz.
Luiz, who enjoyed a successful career with top clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, and Flamengo, won several major trophies, including the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, and two FA Cups with Chelsea. However, after a 2011-12 loss to Liverpool, Neville criticized Luiz’s performance, saying he played as if he were “controlled by a 10-year-old on a PlayStation.”
Looking back, Neville admitted he regretted the remark, acknowledging that it was unfair. Speaking on Sky Bet’s Stick to Football, he said, “I wish I never said the David Luiz line, about him being a ‘PlayStation player.’ I also regret calling Chelsea ‘billion-dollar bottle jobs.’ These are harsh lines that stick with players. David Luiz never really escaped that label. It was a cheap shot.”
Arsenal legend Ian Wright responded, saying the comment about Luiz was “mean” and felt unnecessarily harsh.
Neville also reflected on another comment he regretted, this time regarding Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius. After Karius’ poor performance in the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid, Neville said Liverpool could “never win the league” with him in goal. However, after bumping into Karius at a hotel gym in Italy, Neville felt guilty about his words. He recalled, “He could have confronted me, but instead he greeted me politely. It made me think about how harsh my comments were.”
Neville’s reflections highlight that even seasoned pundits can regret their words, especially when they have lasting effects on players’ careers.
