Chelsea v Manchester City: Maurizio Sarri needs time

Chelsea was pleased with the managers of Roman Abramovich and the withdrawal of Maurizio Sarri would be a short-term vision.

Maurizio Sarri is on the brink of Chelsea and his defeat in the EFL Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday could seal his fate.

Recent results have been mediocre, but the situation is remarkable, as Sarri was chosen to succeed Antonio Conte in order to dissociate the team from his ruthless counter-attack approach and to implement the attractive style of football he perfected in the Italian marasmus. A great success for Naples.

Overview of EFL Cup data between Chelsea and Manchester City

His technical and expansive approach has drawn praise from Pep Guardiola and Arrigo Sacchi – two coaches known to revolutionize the game tactically. But Chelsea fans soon ran out of steam. a support section chanting "F *** Sarriball" as a result of the 2-0 home defeat against Manchester United in the England Cup on Monday has clearly demonstrated.

Letting a head coach leave without giving him the time needed to implement the system for which he was chosen is like madness. However, this is Chelsea, the club that has 13 appointments to the leadership – permanent and interim – since the inauguration of Roman Abramovich in 2003. The managers come and go to Stamford Bridge, where reigns the short term.

From Stamford Bridge to Wembley … @Chelsea FC have had a memorable route to the #CarabaoCupFinal . #EFL | @SkySportspic.twitter.com/m2ogSJNSDW

– Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 21, 2019

What's the problem?

In addition to his FA Cup exit, Chelsea was bothered 4-0 by Bournemouth and beat City 6-0 in a resounding 6-0 win over Premier League last month.

Fighting on four fronts resulted in an overloaded schedule and Sarri did not try to hide the effect that had had on his ability to impress the team.

"As you know, it's not easy, we do not have the time, we try to solve our problems. It's not easy because we have to play every three days. We do not have time to play. [training] not, "said the Italian Wednesday.

His pre-season bedding was hampered by Napoli's dispute with Napoli over a compensation program for his services. Sarri finally started working in West London in mid-July, although Carlo Ancelotti was named his successor at Stadio San Paolo seven weeks ago.

He tried to Jorginho to follow him from Naples and lay the foundation for his Chelsea revolution rather than sign for City. He made a good start at the base of the midfield, but as the performance of the Italian international dwindled, control of Sarri's methods intensified.

2860 – Jorginho completed 2860 pbades in Serie A last season (33 participations); the highest number of players among the top 5 European leagues in 2017/18. Maestro. pic.twitter.com/ilxvAPFNSO

– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 14, 2018

Jorginho was brought to quickly move the ball from the base of a midfielder three, a key factor in the success of Sarri's approach. This is a job for which the head coach does not believe that N'Golo Kante, one of the best championship midfielders in the Premier League for four years, is suitable.

This has always been a bone of contention this season, Kante having to play a different, more offensive role – a role for which he looks uncomfortable. Yet, while his offensive deficiencies are blatant, the winner of the World Cup should always be able to put his tenacity and his energy at the service of a more expansive approach.

A lack of faith?

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was the only other permanent arrival. Christian Pulisic will not be available until next season. This decision was taken because of the desire of Thibaut Courtois to settle in Real Madrid, while the loans of Mateo Kovacic and Gonzalo Higuain do not sign. a long-term investment in the ideals of Sarri.

And it seems that the former 60-year-old banker is having trouble getting the players he inherited accepted.

"Maybe it's my fault, maybe I can not motivate them … I did not see the signal for my work," he said afterwards. a long post-match report following the humiliation of Bournemouth, before adding two days later. he needed to "completely change the mentality".

Sarri says that he likes talking to his players a lot about tactical problems, a lot more than when he has to talk to them about mental problems.#CHEHUD

– Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 1, 2019

But Sarri chairs a group of players who know that when the results fall, the manager pays the price. The fact that Eden Hazard's contract expires at the end of next season adds to the desperation of securing a place in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League. Otherwise, it will be unlikely that the Blues can persuade him to stay.

Sarri has been asked to give Chelsea a new identity in the field, but seemingly inflexible myopia in the conference room means that another defeat could end the process before it can actually take off.

To remove him from office would be a missed opportunity to establish an exciting new era for the same old Chelsea.