Paul Merson has strongly criticized Chelsea's recent performance, labeling it as 'cringeworthy' after their 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City. Merson expressed his disappointment with the team's decision to drop Enzo Fernandez, calling it 'crazy' and stating that the player's absence was deeply felt during the game. Chelsea's loss has left them sixth in the league, four points behind the top five, and Merson believes that manager Liam Rosenior is under significant pressure ahead of their upcoming game against Manchester United. Merson also discussed Tottenham's relegation crisis, stating that the team looks low on confidence and unsure of their style of play.
He expressed concern for their chances of survival, particularly with tough upcoming games against Chelsea and Aston Villa. Additionally, Merson defended Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, saying that talk of him being under pressure is 'ridiculous' and that the team's main concern should be the potential departure of key players like Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.