“I was flabbergasted” – Paul Merson tears into Maresca over “pathetic” Chelsea decision | OneFootball

Paul Merson was less than impressed with the team Enzo Maresca selected against Brentford last weekend and labelled it “pathetic.”

The Blues were held to a goalless draw as Maresca made a number of changes with Marc Cucurella, Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer all on the bench.

That meant starts for the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Christopher Nkunku, whilst Reece James played at left back.

Merson slams Maresca for Brentford team selection

Jackson and Palmer were sent on in the second half, which made a difference for Chelsea, but they were unable to find the breakthrough, with Brentford arguably having the best chances of the game.

Maresca gave a confusing reason  as to why Palmer and Jackson were benched, and with so much at stake at this stage of the season it was certainly a strange decision.

Chelsea still sit fourth after the draw, but will be leapfrogged by Newcastle if they win their game in hand, with the Blues facing a very tough run in.

Merson was not impressed with Maresca’s team selection against Brentford.

However, Sky Sports pundit Merson slammed Maresca and labelled his team selection against the Bees as “pathetic.”

“I couldn’t believe the team Enzo Maresca put out at Brentford when that team came out, I was flabbergasted. It was pathetic,” Merson told Sky Sports.

“Chelsea have won the Champions League. This is the Europa Conference League and he’s resting players for it?

“Getting into the Champions League has to be the be all and end all. They have to be in it.

“If they come sixth in the Premier League and win the Europa Conference League, it would be a shocker. A shocker.

“This is Legia Warsaw, no disrespect to them but they won’t beat Chelsea over two legs. You have to beat Brentford.

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“If they had won that game, then beat Ipswich at the weekend, they would have Champions League football in their hands with six games to go.”

The Blues head to Poland on Thursday night for the first leg of their Conference League quarter final against Legia Warsaw looking for a positive result to take back to Stamford Bridge.