Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports former Chelsea footballer Emmanuel Petit has spoken about the clubs injury crisis and whether brining back Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi to the club could be a worthwhile move.
The former Premier League winner has given his perspective on Liverpool's slow start to the season, defends Salah from recent criticism and discusses what the departure of Trent could mean for his long-term form.
Elsehwere, Petit has spoken honestly about the Wirtz situation, saying he wasn't worth the fee paid for him but backed him to succeed with time whether that be at Liverpool or a shock loan deal to Real Madrid!
Marc Guehi
Guehi Chelsea Return?
How can you have so many injured players in the same positions? It's bad luck, but when you look at last season, maybe it’s the new normal.
They've managed it, winning against Liverpool and in the Champions League at home. They have enough quality to cope with that, and there's no rush to buy another central defender. To be honest, Chelsea fans shouldn't be surprised about the struggle with injuries from the start of the season, because of what they did last season. It's normal. Look at Paris Saint-Germain. I'm not surprised.
In these moments, I think you need to keep your head cool, which means don't rush. Don't go by what people say in the press or on social media. Just keep doing what you've been doing for the last two seasons. I think you're doing a good job, and it's paying off.
You've been winning titles, and your team is improving individually and collectively. So keep that in mind, that's the most important thing.
Should Chelsea Re-Sign Marc Guehi?
Liverpool
Liverpool’s Slow Start
It's never easy for new signings, especially when £450million has been spent. Of course, a lot of players were also sold for significant money. However, when you spend so much, the focus is often on the price tag.
Except for Hugo Ekitike, the other new signings haven't been playing well and are far from their best. Meanwhile, you have top players who have won the Premier League and been at the club for years, who are also not performing well. Ibrahima Konate, for example, is far from his best. Mo Salah, for example, is impacted by the fact that Trent Alexander-Arnold has left.
Milos Kerkez is also not playing at his best level, but there is also Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, so they're not controlling games anymore. I've seen Liverpool in recent years being strong as a team. The team spirit was very important, as was the way they played. I think the way they controlled the game all the time made it very difficult for opponents.
Since the start of the season, I haven't seen Liverpool controlling their games. I think sometimes they've been good, but they haven't been consistent. I think it's never easy when you've won the Premier League to repeat that, especially when you have so many big names and big signings coming into the dressing room. It takes time to fix things. But they are still second in the Premier League, just one point behind Arsenal.
As a player, from the start of the season, if someone told me, ‘Listen, you won't be playing well, but you will be second in mid-October, one point behind the leader,’ I would say, ‘Okay, no problem at all. We have so much time to improve individually and collectively. So when things get better, we will be very difficult to beat.
Moh Salah
How Can Salah Be Criticised?
How can Mohamed Salah be criticised? That reminds me of the criticism Kevin De Bruyne received last season when he played for Man City. I know it's typical for human beings to hate what you love, but come on.
We're talking about Mo Salah, probably one of the most beautiful players in Premier League history. He's not just in the history of the Premier League; he's already a part of it, and he's still playing. Mohamed Salah, like many big players, suffers when the team isn't performing well. This is especially true for a team like Liverpool, which has controlled games from the midfield and wide areas.
The left and right sides have been so important for Liverpool in recent years, and you can see that something needs to be fixed at Liverpool, and Salah is suffering because of that.
Is The Salah Criticism Justified?
Does Salah Miss Trent?
The understanding between Trent and Salah on the right flank was excellent. Trent supported Salah with his passing, and they seemed to play with a telepathic connection, understanding each other's movements very well.
Yes, I believe he is suffering from that loss, but as I said, this is in the past. With new signings, it takes time.
When you join big clubs like Liverpool, especially as the reigning champions, it's very difficult for new signings to integrate. This reminds me of welcoming new players to the national team after winning the World Cup and Euros; it was very challenging for them to adapt to the dressing room.
I spoke with some players last week about this, and they said how difficult it was for them. I can understand the situation, especially with the added pressure of a price tag on their shoulders. Salah has likely missed Alexander-Arnold, but I think he's truly missed the way Liverpool has played for years.
Florian Wirtz
Wirtz “Not Worth The Money”
The Premier League is a different challenge to the Bundesliga. Leverkusen often counter-attacked, giving him space to perform. Liverpool dominates opponents, so the tactics are different. Florian Wirtz is coming to a new culture and environment with significant pressure. Honestly, I don't believe he's worth the transfer fee, despite the respect I have for him as a player.
I think some players suffer because of the deals between clubs. If you asked him, he'd probably say he isn't worth that money, but it's the reality. He arrives at Liverpool with this price tag and has to deliver from the first game. Can you imagine the pressure? But that's how it is; he has to stand up and meet expectations.
I understand it will take time for him to adapt his style to the Premier League. He's talented, so I believe he will succeed, but he'll need more games and a better understanding with his teammates. The Premier League is not the Bundesliga, and Liverpool plays differently from Leverkusen.
Alonso Eyes Wirtz Loan
I heard that Xabi Alonso wants Real Madrid to keep an eye on Florian Wirtz ahead of a possible loan in January; that’s how much he respects him as a player. Alonso knows his quality; many players in Germany have also defended him. Wirtz recently stated in the press that he isn't panicking. He knows his quality and believes that sooner or later, it will show on the pitch.
I hope for his sake it does, because if it doesn't, it will be very difficult for him to cope with the pressure and criticism. Will he be a flop? To be honest, I have no idea right now because the way Leverkusen and Liverpool play is not the same. He needs to adapt. La Liga is not as fast as the Premier League. The Premier League is very quick; you have no time to think with the ball, so you need to play very quickly. You also need to be able to respond physically, as opponents will challenge you constantly.
In La Liga, it's more technical. You have more time to play and show your skills and ability, which could be better for him. I wonder if Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was telling the truth recently when he said that Bayern Munich wanted to sign Wirtz, but he decided to join Liverpool. Changing countries and styles of football was not the easiest path. It might have been better for him to sign for Bayern Munich, given how they've handled their best players for years. We'll see, maybe I'm wrong.
Based on his quality, he has great potential. He's still young, around 22, so he needs to learn. But with that price tag at 22, he's done very good things with both Leverkusen and the national team. Is it enough to take the next step with Liverpool? I don't know.
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