Ahead of Chelsea’s much-anticipated clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford, former Arsenal and England star Paul Merson has recommended that Chelsea’s manager Enzo Maresca bench Jadon Sancho, opting instead for Pedro Neto.
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Merson believes Neto’s speed and directness would better suit Chelsea’s tactics against United’s defensive structure, which he describes as “lazy” in the pressing game.
He suggested that Neto’s pace would allow Chelsea to break through Manchester United’s lines more effectively than with Sancho, who tends to slow down the play.
Merson’s remarks come after Chelsea’s recent Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle United, a defeat that was an outlier in their otherwise strong season.
United, recently shaken by Erik ten Hag’s departure, will be under the temporary management of Ruud van Nistelrooy for this encounter. Despite recent setbacks, Chelsea has been solid under Maresca’s leadership, and Merson backs them to emerge victorious on Sunday.
Merson also voiced frustrations over some managerial choices, including why Cole Palmer was taken to Newcastle only to remain on the bench throughout.
He added that Maresca’s preference for speed over Sancho’s current form could make the difference in a potentially tough matchup at Old Trafford.
