Merson Criticizes Rosenior's Tactics: Stop Saying 'Respect the Ball'

Former footballer Paul Merson believes Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior should refrain from making certain comments, such as 'respect the ball,' and focus on improving the team's performance. Chelsea is facing a tough road to Champions League qualification after three consecutive defeats, including two losses to Paris Saint-Germain and one to Newcastle. Merson expressed concern over Rosenior's decision to give a substitute player a note with tactical instructions when they were already six goals down. He thinks this behavior is unnecessary and advises Rosenior to stop it. Merson also criticized Chelsea's recent performance, particularly against PSG, which he found worrying. He compared it to Newcastle's game against Barcelona, where despite being heavily beaten, Newcastle was the better team for most of the match. Merson thinks Chelsea are struggling to qualify for the Champions League and have a tough schedule ahead. As the manager, Rosenior will be judged on his performance in big games, and so far, he has lost all six major games. Merson emphasized the importance of qualifying for the Champions League, as top players may not want to join the team if they are not playing in the Champions League. He also discussed the future of Enzo Fernandez, who was honest about his uncertainty regarding his stay at Chelsea. Merson believes Fernandez will have to stay due to the club's significant investment in him and the financial fair play rules. He thinks Chelsea are far from competing in the Premier League due to their inconsistency and lack of experience. The team misses the presence of experienced players like Thiago Silva, and Merson suggests they need to buy experienced players rather than young ones. He also highlighted the need for a new goalkeeper, citing the importance of goalkeepers like Gianluigi Donnarumma and David Raya in saving points for their teams.