Phil Neville has told Everton fans to blame him for
their FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.
Neville, who captained the side at Wembley, was
designated as the man to nullify Frank Lampard for the day, but he
crucially lost the Chelsea man for the winning goal.
On the face of it, Neville actually did all he could to force
Lampard off his right foot onto his left, before producing a
shot that Tim Howard should have saved.
However, Neville insists the buck should stop with him, and he
admitted he has never felt a lower emotion in his career.
“I take full responsibility for the winning goal. I should have
taken the ball but I was already on a booking,” Neville said
post-match.
“You simply cannot allow someone like Frank Lampard all that
space and time – and we were certainly punished.
“This is the worst feeling I have had in football. It was such a
long walk up those steps. I didn’t want to do it, but you have got
to. I really didn’t want to be there.
“You feel as if you have let the supporters down and your family
too, especially when they have travelled down to Wembley.”
