Graham Potter will be successful at Stamford Bridge, according to Paul Merson, who also praised several Blues players.
Chelsea Online News:
Paul Merson thinks Chelsea has the potential to go on a winning streak this year and crack the top four of the Premier League.
Graham Potter’s team is now in tenth place and has little under half of the 2022–23 season left to close a ten-point gap to the Champions League spots.
After a disappointing start to their January run, the Blues have won against Crystal Palace and earned a tense draw against Liverpool at Anfield, giving them four points in their last two games. The two teams met in two domestic cup finals just the previous year, with Liverpool winning both.
Todd Boehly has authorized the entry of six new signings as a result of these domestic difficulties, with Noni Madueke being the most recent to arrive after Mykhailo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Joao Felix, Andrey Santos, and David Datro Fofana.
Because Chelsea lost to Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinals, Potter will have a free weekend and more time to spend with his Chelsea team.
Paul Merson thinks Chelsea will be alright this season and believes that they could make a strong finish into the top four dependent on one crucial outcome based on his previous success at Brighton.
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“I don’t worry about Chelsea. I think they’ll be just right,” Merson said on Sky Sports. “If you look at Graham Potter’s career at Brighton, I thought they were one of the best teams in the league from box to box. When he left there, they started scoring goals, so that might worry you a little bit. But I think he needs time and a pre-season, to get his players in and get them playing the way he wants to play.
“I think Chelsea will go on a little bit of a run. He’s got to start somewhere. It’s been a bit of a nightmare situation, but they’ve brought in a lot of young players and the future does look bright.
“I don’t think it’s fair to bring in someone to a club like that and not give him time to have a pre-season. If he’s where he is now this time next season, then there’s alarm bells.
“They’re 10 points behind Newcastle, who are the team I think they’ve got to chase down. I think Man City, Man Utd and Arsenal will be in the top four. If you beat Newcastle at home then it’s seven points. There’s a chance if they can get on a run. There’s still a lot of games – people forget we had a World Cup. We’re only on halfway now.”
Three of the six signings in January have already had a big impact. Felix made his debut against Fulham and looked very promising before getting sent off. Mudryk then made a similar cameo last weekend and caused Liverpool a lot of problems in the game’s closing moments.
“Mykhailo Mudryk looks like an outstanding buy. He looked very lively and pacey [against Liverpool]. Jurgen Klopp brought James Milner off in no time against him on Saturday. Joao Felix will come back, so you’ve got him and Kai Havertz with Mudryk. It looks lively.”
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With the Frenchman and Thiago Silva developing an excellent relationship at the other end of the field, the signing of Badiashile has proven to be the most important so far.
“They look solid at the back, too, with two clean sheets on the trot. Benoit Badiashile’s looked outstanding – and he’s playing with one of the greatest of all time with Thiago Silva.
He added “He’s still one of the best now and he’s 38. Even all of his headers are knocked down to people. I can’t talk highly enough of him. If we talk about Virgil van Dijk as a Rolls Royce, then Silva’s a vintage Rolls Royce.”
