Paul Merson, a Sky Sports analyst, has expressed his disappointment with Chelsea's recent 3-0 loss to Manchester City at home, labeling their performance as 'cringeworthy.' He believes that the team 'capitulates' when faced with pressure and criticized the decision to drop Enzo Fernandez, citing it as 'crazy' and detrimental to their chances of success. With Chelsea currently sitting sixth in the league, four points behind the top five, Merson thinks that manager Liam Rosenior is under significant pressure to deliver a win in their upcoming game against Manchester United. Merson's comments come as Chelsea struggles to secure a Champions League spot, with their current position making it difficult to achieve their goal. He emphasizes the importance of having their best players on the field, particularly Enzo Fernandez, who he considers to be their most skilled passer and creator.
The upcoming game against Manchester United will be a crucial test for Chelsea, and Merson believes that a win is essential to alleviate some of the pressure on Rosenior. In addition to his comments on Chelsea, Merson also discussed Tottenham's relegation crisis, stating that he did not see anything promising in their recent loss to Sunderland.
He thinks that Tottenham's players lack confidence and are unsure of their roles, which is contributing to their struggles. Merson also touched on Newcastle's current situation, stating that manager Eddie Howe should not be under pressure despite the team's mid-table position.
He attributes Newcastle's struggles to the potential loss of key players, such as Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, rather than Howe's management.