
In his last column, Paul Merson of Sky Sports speaks his opinion about Chelsea and Tottenham's upcoming Conference League and Europa League quarterfinals.
I couldn't believe the team and so on in Brentford. When that team came out, I was stunned. It was pathetic.
Chelsea has won the Champions League. This is the Europa Conference League – and he rests players?
Coming in the Champions League must be everything and end everything. They must be in it. If they arrive sixth in the Premier League and win the Europa Conference League, it would be a shock. A shock.
This is Legia Warsaw, no lack of respect for them, but they will not beat Chelsea over two legs. You have to beat Brentford.
If they had won that match, then Ippswich beat Ipswich, they would have Champions League football in their hands with six more games to go.
And then look at what happened when those subs such as Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson came. They dominated Brentford.
But now they are right against it. Chelsea may have to end up for Manchester City to qualify for the Champions League, in an era in which every team that ended in front of the city won the Premier League.
Maresca won't win until the end of May. People tell me that Chelsea is doing well, but they have one of the biggest squadrons in the world and they are not even close to winning the Premier League.
Man City and Arsenal have dominated the Premier League for the past two years and Chelsea is a million points on the title in the year that they drop off.
And these players will be together for the next six or seven years because of their contracts. It is madness, absolutely madness.
Six major players are currently on loan because they don't play, so it can be an absolute disaster if they don't get Champions League football next season.
And winning the conference competition? Come on. There are two or three teams in this competition that I have never heard of. I went to Stamford Bridge and saw them play FC Noah!
'Maresca uses the Conference League as a safety net'
The only good thing about winning the conference competition is that Chelsea would be the only team ever to win every competition. No one else will do that because all the good teams will never be in the Conference League.
Maresca probably looks at the competition that thinks they should win, because they might not be in the European competition next season.
Chelsea may not end in the top six this year and winning it would get them Europa League football. He uses it as a safety net.
Newcastle is now at points with Chelsea, Villa Flying and although they have to play teams above them in the table, that is what you want at this end of the season.
And the games of Chelsea are not great. After Ipswich, Fulham Away is a difficult game. Then Everton at home – they are not for everyone.
Liverpool is on track to have to win that competition to win the competition, then the Newcastle is gone and that can be the battle for fifth place.
Their last two games at Manchester United, who have to win every match at this pace and you begs the last match against Nottingham Forest there is one where Forest has already secured top four and is on vacation!
'Ange must remain as Spurs Europa League wins'
If Ange Postecoglou wins the Europa League, he must stay with Spurs. It would be a shame if they were lost afterwards.
First, they would win a trophy – when were the last time they did it again? Two, they would be in the Champions League. What else would you want? Even if they finish 17th and win the Europe, he must stay.
The competition is not for them, it's time waste. If they win their last seven league games, but losing Frankfurt, he is gone. You might as well put your eggs in one basket.
Postecoglou's had loads and many injuries. He just gets the entire team. People have short memories of that. These are important players with injuries.
Yes, many teams have sometimes had eight players from the season, but these have been big, big players for Spurs.
And I think they have every chance to win the Europa League. Athletic Club is the team to beat, but I think they will beat Frankfurt on two legs.
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