Paul Merson has now shared why he thinks Crystal Palace No.6 Marc Guehi could struggle to shine for England this summer.
The £18m man looks set to start England’s UEFA EURO 2024 opener against Serbia on Sunday after Gareth Southgate named him in the starting XI for both warmup fixtures, against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland.
However, Paul Merson believes there is one reason why Marc Guehi could struggle to replicate his form with Crystal Palace with England…
Paul Merson shares doubts about Marc Guehi
The 56-year-old has now claimed that the man from Abidjan could find it difficult having more possession of the ball at UEFA EURO 2024 than he usually does with Crystal Palace.
Merson told Sky Sports: “I like Marc Guehi – but playing for England at a tournament will be a different experience for him.
“He plays for Crystal Palace who don’t generally have a lot of the ball. The Palace defence is generally under a lot of pressure, and they defend on the edge of the penalty area. There’s a lot of defending to do and you are always busy.
“However, for England, he’s going to be playing in these games and we are likely to have 70% of the ball in these group games. You’ve got to be alive and switched on the whole time.”
Nonsense.
Crystal Palace No.6 will be just fine at UEFA EURO 2024
Of course England tend to have better control of a game than Crystal Palace usually would, although Merson is making us out to sound like Burnley or Sheffield United.
Guehi completed 1,299 passes in the Premier League last season, more than the likes of Harry Maguire, Andy Robertson, Levi Colwill and Joe Gomez managed, and is incredibly comfortable with the ball at his feet.
Merson’s comments may have been applicable if Roy Hodgson was still in charge.
READ MORE: What Adam Wharton told his agent after mistake on Crystal Palace debut vs Brighton
However, we are far more in control of matches under Oliver Glasner – which, if anything, has provided Guehi with a strong platform to slot straight into Southgate’s system with England.
In our view, the 23-year-old will be just just fine alongside John Stones in Germany.
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