Paul Merson has delivered a scathing assessment of Chelsea’s prospects under new head coach Liam Rosenior, claiming the Blues remain fundamentally unchanged from Enzo Maresca’s tenure. The pundit predicted Chelsea will miss out on Champions League qualification after they surrendered a two-goal advantage against promoted Leeds United. According to Football365.com.
Merson questions Chelsea’s mentality despite narrow gap to fourth place
Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson highlighted Chelsea’s inability to maintain 90-minute performances as their critical weakness. Despite sitting just one point behind fourth-place Manchester United, he believes the Blues lack the experience to handle pressure situations when leads are threatened.
“Chelsea haven’t changed from when Maresca was there,” Merson stated. “They can’t put a 90-minute performance together. They were brilliant first half, they were like the Harlem Globetrotters.” He praised the first-half display featuring Palmer, Santos, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro and Estevao’s movement.
The former Arsenal midfielder criticised Chelsea’s second-half collapse, noting they wasted 15 minutes after conceding their lead. “They haven’t got anyone to grab the game or tell the players to calm down and we’ll get another chance,” he observed, referencing Palmer’s missed opportunity.
Merson warned of challenging fixtures ahead for Chelsea, describing their Champions League qualification battle as “a real big fight”. “If Chelsea can get in the Champions League positions after the run-in they’ve got I’ll hold my hands up and say fair play,” he concluded.
Head coach Rosenior acknowledged his team’s failure to “stay calm” during crucial moments. “I can’t remember Leeds having a shot or a moment in the game,” he said, expressing frustration at dropping points from a dominant position against the promoted side.
