Paul Merson has branded the team selection of Enzo Maresca against Brentford 'pathetic' in a contemptuous assessment of the priorities of the Chelsea manager.
The hope of Chelsea to qualify for the Champions League next season, took a relevant hit on Sunday, when Brentford De Blues kept a frustrating 0-0 pat position in West London, who benefited from Maresca's decision to shake his pack for Thursday's quarterfinals against Legia Warsa.
The XI of Maresca for Brentford raised eyebrows for the competition as important first team players Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, Nicolas Jackson, Pedro Neto and Levi Colwill were mentioned on the couch for what promised to be a difficult test away from home.
And frustration within the Chelsea fan base only grew in the course of Sunday afternoon, while the visitors had trouble breaking Brentford and then dropped two vital points in the race for the top five.
Thanks to a fruitful campaign from English clubs in European competitions this season, the top five of the Premier League will be eligible for the Champions League subsequent period – although the battle for places is still just as competitive as always.
After the boring 0-0 draw in Brentford, Chelsea was in fourth place at 53 points, closely ahead of Newcastle in the fifth who are just behind the target difference but have a match in hand.
Meanwhile, reigning Premier League champions Manchester City and Champions League quarterfinallists Aston Villa hunt them on 52 points and 51 points respectively.
Even Fulham and Brighton will believe that they are in the outside of a top five finish, after 31 games have divided the respective 48 and 47-point long tile.
The Premier League is the competition from which Chelsea can qualify for the Champions League next season, because the winners of the Conference League are only rewarded with a place in the Europa League of next season.
For fear that Chelsea can confuse Maresca's team selection against Brentford on Sunday, Merson's Italian scolded the Italian with a furious column via Sky Sports.
'I could not believe that the Enzo Maresca team was deported in Brentford. When that team came out, I was stunned. It was pathetic, “he said.
'Chelsea has won the Champions League. This is the Conference League – and he rests players?
'Going 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 Conference League, it would be a shock. A shock. '
The former star of Arsenal and England continued to show how many better Maresca's side were after Palmer and Jackson came halfway through the second half and it it was said that Chelsea 'dominated' the bees in the last phases.
“Now they are right against it,” he added. '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.
'Maresca probably looks at the Conference League who thinks they should win it, 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. '
After hosting the struggling Ipswich on Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Chelsea must endure a challenging Premier League-Run-in in addition to their exploits in the Conference League.
After the second stage against Legia Warszawa next Thursday, the Blues Face West London Rivals Fulham in Craven Cottage will be for a tough test against Everton by David Moyes, who gave Arsenal a 1-1 draw last weekend.
Then Chelsea opposes three of the top five in Liverpool, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, with a home collision against Manchester United who comes to the city land before their last game of the season.
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