“Don’t understand the game” – Pundit explains why Slot is cruising to the title while Maresca struggles | OneFootball

The circus at Chelsea remains a headline generator for media outlets everywhere, and ESPN are no exception.

They had former Liverpool player Steve Nicol on today explaining the different between Arne Slot’s arrival and Liverpool and subsequent cruise to the title with Enzo Maresca’s struggles to make any improvement to Chelsea.

Incredibly, Nicol suggested that it was only more transfer that could save the Blues now:

“[Maresca] has to get in players who are going to take of the burden off. Of course they do [have to buy more players], because the ones they’ve got in aren’t good enough… [Arne] Slot has picked up a group of players who actually understand the game… Chelsea have got a bunch of young guys who are talented, but don’t understand the game.

“If they don’t bring in some more experienced guys who can actually help the younger ones, you’re going to see the same thing. A bunch of young guys, doing their best but who just don’t get it.”

You can see Nicol speaking in the clip embedded here, with his monologue coming after 5 minutes:

Chelsea’s game against Southampton becomes must win for Blues

Chelsea group generic despair after a defeat. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

We have always said that more experience was needed, and that’s why this youth-exclusive policy was folly from the start. Aiming to change too much, too fast never works out well, especially in football, where a more steady transition was needed.

Tonight’s game against Southampton is a huge moment for this season and this team, and Enzo Maresca in particular. It should be a morale restoring big win, with big smiles and high 5s all around leading into a much needed weekend off.

On the other hand, given Southampton’s league position and form, failure to win this would be an project-shakingly big failure which might actually lead to things boiling over.