Reeling Real Madrid are all set for another Barcelona beatdown

How Newcastle beat Madrid & Barca to sign Malaga wonderkid

Europe's most exciting title race - starring Scott McTominay!

The best Didier Drogba interview you'll ever read

The new Toni Kroos! Who is Liverpool-linked Angelo Stiller?

Editors' Picks

Benzema goes viral for savage response to Ronaldo Golden Boot question 

Guardiola & wife Cristina to give marriage second chance 

Messi, Ronaldo among top-5 highest-paid athletes of all-time

'That's not his job!' - Keane defends Rashford with Watkins claim

Shock reason for Guardiola’s split from wife Cristina revealed

Emery blasted for 'crime' of putting Watkins 'up for sale'

Ronaldo was 'never loved' at Real Madrid like Bellingham

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Maresca's team selection branded "pathetic"</li><li>Left out Palmer and Jackson</li><li>Champions League is "be all and end all"</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'It was pathetic' - Pundit slams Maresca's Chelsea team selection in Brentford draw and is 'flabbergasted' Champions League isn't the priority

Premier League

Chelsea

Everton

<p>Maresca left both Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson out of his side for the 0-0 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium, a decision Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson vehemently disagreed with. Merson was "flabbergasted" at the decision as Champions League qualification should be the "be all and end all".</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Merson wrote in his Sky Sports column:  "I couldn't believe the team Enzo Maresca put out at Brentford. When that team came out, I was flabbergasted. It was pathetic. Chelsea have won the Champions League. This is the Europa Conference League - and he's resting players for it? Getting into the Champions League has to be the be all and end all. They have to be in it. If they come sixth in the Premier League and win the Europa Conference League, it would be a shocker. A shocker. This is Legia Warsaw, no disrespect to them but they won't beat Chelsea over two legs. You have to beat Brentford."</p>

WHAT MERSON SAID

<p>Palmer is Chelsea's joint-top goalscorer with 14 goals, while Jackson has scored nine. The game finished 0-0 and left Chelsea in a more vulnerable league position heading into Thursday's Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg in Warsaw. </p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>The Blues sit fourth in the Premier League but with just a one point buffer to the teams outside the Champions League qualification positions. They take on Ipswich on Sunday before the second leg against Legia Warsaw next Thursday. </p>

WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

'It was pathetic' - Pundit slams Maresca's Chelsea team selection in Brentford draw and is 'flabbergasted' Champions League isn't the priority | Goal.com

Enzo Maresca has been told the Chelsea team he selected at Brentford on Sunday was &quot;pathetic&quot; and that the Conference League shouldn&apos;t be a priority. 

&apos;It was pathetic&apos; - Pundit slams Maresca&apos;s Chelsea team selection in Brentford draw and is &apos;flabbergasted&apos; Champions League isn&apos;t the priority

Next Match