Chelsea should SACK whoever decided to sell Nemanja Matic to Manchester United, says Phil Neville
Absence of N'Golo Kante has highlighted lack of protection given to Chelsea defence and Neville insists Tiemoue Bakayoko is not a direct replacement for Matic who has been outstanding for Manchester United
CHELSEA need to sack the person who sanctioned Nemanja Matic move to Manchester United, says Phil Neville.
The Blues were humbled by Roma on Tuesday in the Champions League and are off the pace in the Premier League.
Chelsea come up against Manchester United and in-form Matic on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
The former United man insists the Premier League champions are suffering because the failed to replace to Serbian who was sold to United in the summer.
Matic was key to Chelsea's Premier League title win last season, and has proved to be a vital cog in Jose Mourinho’s engine room, but was nevertheless allowed to leave by manager Antonio Conte.
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Neville told Radio Five Live: "What's gone wrong for Chelsea? One word, Matic. It's as simple as that.
“The minute they sold Nemanja Matic was a mistake.
“When you had Matic sat in front of you, alongside Kante, there was protection.
Whoever made that decision needs sacking, that is one of the poorest decisions I have ever seen in the Premier League.
“If you ask any of those Chelsea players who they would want back, they would say Matic.
“Chelsea replaced him with someone who is going to do the same job - Bakayoko is not that player, he is not a holding midfield player.
“They didn't replace Matic, I wouldn't have let him out of the building, I would have chained him to the training ground walls."
Replacement Tiemoue Bakayoko lined up alongside Cesc Fabregas in Rome, where the Serie A side ran out 3-0 winners.
