Jamie O’Hara claims one player isn’t good enough for Chelsea after Crystal Palace draw

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Former Premier League midfielder Jamie O’Hara has been criticising a couple of Chelsea players following the Blues’ 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

O’Hara wasn’t impressed with Nicolas Jackson and his finishing, for example, despite the 23-year-old scoring Chelsea‘s opener.

It was Jackson’s second goal of the season, but had the Senegal international been more clinical against Palace and Manchester City, he could have easily been on at least four already.

Jackson is not the only Chelsea player to be criticised by O’Hara following the Blues’ draw with the Eagles, though.

• READ MORE: Chelsea’s strongest XI as window slams shut includes Enzo Fernandez decision and just one new signing

Jamie O’Hara claims Enzo Fernandez is not good enough to play for Chelsea

Enzo Fernandez captained Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier and is the second-most expensive player in the club’s history.

Nevertheless, O’Hara does not think he should be getting anywhere near their team, claiming that Romeo Lavia is better than him.

Speaking on Sky Sports (01/09/2024 at 15:45) after Chelsea’s London derby with Palace, the former Tottenham Hotspur star said: “I am not having Enzo Fernandez. I am not having him. I don’t think he is good enough.

“They paid a lot of money for him, £100 million, they have made him the captain of the football club. I don’t think he deserves to play in midfield. Lavia is a better player.”

While O’Hara does not seem to be a fan of Fernandez, his teammate Noni Madueke is. Madueke praised Fernandez’s passing after Chelsea beat Servette in the first leg of their Conference League play-off tie.

Enzo Fernandez’s impossible job

Fernandez has probably had worst games. He misplaced some of his passes versus Oliver Glasner’s men, but he still dictated things, especially in the first half.

The problem for the 23-year-old is the fact that he cost over £100m. At that price, people are going to be expecting him to excel at everything.

However, as a midfielder, there is only so much Fernandez can do. Perhaps he could dictate games for a bit longer and on a more consistent basis, but claiming that the Argentine is not good enough to play for Chelsea is maybe a bit too much.

Another pundit, though, Ally McCoist, has also suggested that Lavia is superior to Fernandez, despite the 20-year-old having barely kicked a ball for Chelsea.