Merson names Tuchel’s undroppable ‘Rolls Royce’ at Chelsea

Will Ford
Merson praises Fernandes

Paul Merson claims Kai Havertz “has always got to play” after describing the Chelsea forward as a “Rolls Royce” player.

Havertz was oustanding in the League Cup final for Chelsea having been given the nod to start ahead of Romelu Lukaku by Thomas Tuchel.


MEDIAWATCH: Liverpool have 66/1 Quadruple ‘within their grasp’ now


The German international has made his mark as a big game player for Chelsea, scoring in the Champions League and Club World Cup finals.

And while he didn’t manage to get on the scoresheet on Sunday, Merson believes his display illustrated he’s “different class” and the Sky Sports pundit believes he has to start for Chelsea.

Merson wrote in his Sky Sports column: “Havertz has always got to play. Havertz is one of Chelsea’s best players. People forget he is class. He knits things together. He’s a Rolls Royce, he glides round the pitch.

“He doesn’t do the hustle and bustle, winning 50/50 tackles and all the kind of stuff. People think he’s a bit lazy, but he’s a Rolls Royce. Different class, and he always has to play.”

Merson also explained why he believes Chelsea and Liverpool are the two favourites to win the UEFA Champions League.

He added: “I watched the game on Sunday and those two are not going to be a million miles away from winning the Champions League.

“They have got the best two defences in Europe and if you want to win Champions League football over two legs, you need to keep clean sheets.

“I think those teams have the ammunition going forward. People will say: ‘Well, it was 0-0’, but it was not a 0-0 game, was it? It was outstanding.

“Great goalkeeping, great defending, good centre-forward play. Not great finishing, but it just showed me that both teams are bang in there for the Champions League.

“One of them two [will win the Champions League]. They are so good at the back. I watch Man City and they will give you a chance.

“I think Liverpool have got more chance of winning the Champions League than the Premier League. They can lose three more matches in the Champions League and still win it, but if they lose three Premier League games they have got no chance. They have got no leeway in the Premier League.”