Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi could be exploited by Liverpool in Sunday's Carabao Cup final as he doesn't want the ball, claims Tim Sherwood.
Disasi was praised for his heroic defensive performance in the Blues' 1-1 Premier League draw at Manchester City last weekend, but Sherwood has been more critical of the French international.
The former Tottenham manager even made a bizarre reference to the 25-year-old having "a leather allergy."
Speaking ahead of the Wembley showdown, the first domestic final of the season, Sherwood told Sky Sports:
"I think Chelsea’s best chance [of beating Liverpool] is to defend their box –pretty much what they did against Man City.
"Disasi is ok doing that. When you’re asking him to defend on the halfway line, that’s when he struggles. He cannot handle the ball; he’s got a leather allergy. His turning problem... He doesn’t want the football.
"He wants to defend the box; he wants to head it; he wants to put his body on the line. That’s great if you’re defending the six-yard box or the 18-yard box – but if you’re, Chelsea you cannot do that. You have to defend halfway line; you have to find a partner who he’s comfortable with."
Sherwood was particularly sceptical of Disasi's chances against the likes of Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez. He continued:
"When you’re asked to get up on the halfway line and Mo Salah is running at you and Nunez is chasing you down…let’s see how he does [on Sunday]. I hope he does well. I hope he’s got a bit of confidence because it looked like he loved celebrating a little blocked cross."
Perhaps fortunately for Disasi, Salah and Nunez are both major injury doubts for the final...
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