Paul Merson has opened up about something pretty unusual in the punditry world. The Arsenal legend admitted he's actually picked up the phone to apologize to players after going too hard on them on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday.
It's not every day you hear about a pundit calling players directly. But Merson, 57, says sometimes his criticisms leave him feeling uncomfortable after the cameras stop rolling.
The two players he's reached out to? Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and Tottenham midfielder James Maddison. Both England internationals, both on the receiving end of Merson's sharp tongue on live TV.
The Harry Maguire Apology
When Maguire signed for United for a whopping £70 million, Merson didn't hold back. He thought it was a bad signing and questioned whether the defender could handle playing a high defensive line on the halfway line.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Merson explained: "I stick by that, but I just felt like I carried on and I was going on and on. I come away from the show and I thought nah you are out of order and it didn't feel good."
So what did he do? He called Brendan Rodgers, got Maguire's number, and rang him up. Can you imagine getting that call? Maguire was understandably surprised, but Merson clarified his position while also acknowledging he may have gone too far.
For those keeping an eye on United's defensive options, it's worth noting that Maguire's contract expires in June. The Red Devils are already scouting replacements, with Sassuolo's Tarik Muharemovic on their radar for a summer move.
The James Maddison Call
The second apology came after a North London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs were awful that day, and Merson singled out Maddison for criticism.
Afterwards, he started questioning himself. "Why am I picking him out and not everybody else?" he wondered. He'd said Maddison wasn't good enough and needed to do more as a number ten.
So once again, Merson picked up the phone. This time, Maddison's response was classic: "I haven't even seen it." Even better? Merson ran out of credit before they could finish the conversation.
It's a refreshingly honest look behind the punditry curtain. Merson clearly takes his words seriously, even if he doesn't always get it right in the heat of the moment. Not many pundits would have the humility to make those calls.
