Paul Merson: Chelsea's loss to Manchester City was 'cringeworthy' - they 'capitulate' under pressure

Sky Sports' Paul Merson has labelled Chelsea "cringeworthy" after their limp 3-0 defeat at home to Manchester City.

In his latest column, Merse believes the Blues "capitulate" when they go behind and criticised the "crazy" decision to drop Enzo Fernandez for the defeat, following his comments about his future.

Sunday's loss leaves Chelsea sixth and four points off the top five, with fifth now good enough for Champions League qualification.

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Merson says boss Liam Rosenior is under "severe pressure" ahead of Saturday's Premier League home game against Manchester United.

Read below for the Magic Man's thoughts on Chelsea's situation, Tottenham's relegation crisis and the future of Newcastle boss Eddie Howe...

'Cringeworthy Chelsea capitulate under pressure'

"It's a huge issue if they don't qualify for the Champions League, but if you look at it at the moment, they will be sweating on getting into Europe full stop. They have to be playing in the Champions League, but for me, yesterday [against Man City] was cringeworthy. I'm asking the question 'why'?

"Why in your brain of brains would you ban Enzo Fernandez for two games? He's your best passer of the ball, the one who can create, and you chop your nose off to spite your face. And it's not the FA banning him, it's the club. It's crazy at the highest level. They were crying out for him yesterday; they couldn't get out.

"Moises Caicedo is a brilliant holding midfielder, but you can't ask him to play that role; it's not his game. It's alien to him. He's one of the best No 6s in the world, but you need Enzo in there to get on the ball.

"The way Chelsea are losing games, they get battered, three 3-0s. It's not good at the moment. Who banned Enzo? Was it the manager, or did that come from up above? You've got to use a bit of common sense and say' we need all our best players'.

"This is a hard job; people are questioning the manager. The last thing you want to do is tell one of your best players they can't play in the big game. It's madness. Common sense isn't always common, is it?

"I think Rosenior started well, got some good results, but when Chelsea play the big boys, they get beaten up. Every big team they play, they lose. He's under severe pressure to win next week [against Man Utd], it's a big game.

"Chelsea are not set up to win the league; they haven't got a league-winning squad. They capitulate when they go behind.

"If they get into the Champions League and win the FA Cup that is a good season. You can only become a great manager with experience, so he needs time. If he gets in the top five it's something at least."

Spurs' Brighton game is the 'cup final of cup finals for them'

"I watched Tottenham's loss at Sunderland and I didn't see anything. Not anything. It was just a game that needed to fizzle to a 0-0, and they couldn't even do that. Now I don't think draws are going to be enough, and then bad luck at the end, but they look so low on confidence.

"Spurs have got some good players. But you look at Sunderland, you could see the style of play, the patterns, they know what they are doing. I felt like Tottenham were very unsure. They were waiting for something to happen. They might end up falling over something, but the players have to come off the pitch like they can't move, like they have given everything. It's not about the football, it's more than that, it's the hard graft.

"You look at Friday night, and West Ham were atrocious at times and still won 4-0. They kept going. I worry for Spurs. Brighton is a funny game next week because they give up chances, but when they attack, they can really play. Brighton will be playing with no fear against a team with shackles on.

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"I didn't see anything to suggest they can get out of trouble. No disrespect to Sunderland, but they shouldn't be so comfortable in a game this important. It's not like it was back to walls, the goalkeeper wasn't the best player on the pitch. Sunderland probably went into the dressing room after like 'wow, that wasn't like playing a team in a relegation battle'.

"It's hard because these players haven't been in a relegation fight before, nor have the fans. This is where it's such an advantage for teams always around the bottom because they understand it. The fans of those clubs understand it, and they stick with them. It's got to sweat time now, if they don't win next week and other teams pick up points, you are bang in trouble.

"Two of their six games are Chelsea and Aston Villa away, so they've got four games to survive. Forest were quite poor against Villa, but they didn't lose the football match; they scored a decent goal. By next week, Tottenham could be right in the mire; all three other teams have got massively winnable games. Tottenham don't even look like scoring, and there's no urgency.

"I feel the Brighton games is the cup final of cup finals for them. They beat Brighton and they will beat Wolves and be safe. But if they don't, it's massive."

Howe under pressure? 'That's ridiculous'

"It's hard at the moment because Newcastle have been playing for so much over the last few years, won a cup for the first time, playing in the Champions League, and now they are drifting around mid-table. They are almost in nothing territory, and it's quite hard after the highs they have had.

"When I hear about Eddie Howe under pressure, it makes me laugh. He brought them their first trophy in what felt like a million years. It's ridiculous any talk of pressure. The real problem is that it looks like Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes might leave - those are the things that should worry Newcastle fans. But they are still a good team.

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"It's a bit like Liverpool, the high of winning the league last season, now look at them. The demands are taking their toll. Last year, they had a much more settled team; injuries have meant they don't have that this year. You couldn't pick Newcastle's best team. I would give them a bit of leeway.

"I expect Newcastle to always be around the five, six, seven mark in the Premier League. When they have a full team, all on it, they give anyone a game."

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