Football News: My Verdict on Maurizio Sarri's First Season at Chelsea
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Now that the season has come to an end, here is my verdict on Maurizio Sarri's first season at Chelsea Football Club. A lot was expected of him, a lot had to change from the approach designated by the manager to the club's philosophy and much more. His arrival saw The Blues shift to a completely new system under Sarri.
Here's how Chelsea fared under Sarri:
1. Chelsea are back in the Champions League.
2. Two cup finals.
3. Chelsea managed to reduce the gap between them and Premier League winners by 4 points compared to last season.
4. Chelsea were the third best team in the Premier League by numbers.
5. Chelsea played attractive attacking football, dominated possession in most of their games.
Maurizio Sarri's first season in charge of Chelsea is not all positives though. For instance, his famed 'Sarriball' was not a success in the Premier League.
The concept of 'Sarriball', which is essentially "a fast-paced, possession-based style of attacking football, which features short and quick passes designed to move play as far up the pitch as quickly as possible".
Maurizio Sarr is a great manager who has excellent tactical knowledge of football and has the potential to be remembered as top manager, but it won't be happening with the certain limitations at Chelsea. For me it's not Sarri's tactics that is the problem, but the problem is with the Chelsea players.
Why has Sarri struggled with his tactics at Chelsea:
1. Poor Finishing.
2. Not playing as a system. "Chelsea have more players doing individual things and less system player" - Sarri.
3. Most players at Chelsea this season were suited to a different way of playing football.
4. The current group of players have poor mental attitude and lack motivation.
5. Senior players who have been at Chelsea for a while, now think they're the ones who should control the dressing room.
Conclusion:
I still believe in the system and I think it is the way forward for Chelsea. Personally, I'd like to see this football played in the right way. Sarri should have the backing and the help to build the squad he wants over the next couple of years.
Here's how I would tweak the team:
Formation: 4-3-3
KEPA
AZPI - RUDIGER - LUIZ - EMERSON
KANTE - JORGINHO - LOFTUS
PULISIC - (STRIKER) - (LF)
SUBSTITUTES:
CABALLERO
CHRISTENSEN
ZOUMA
ALONSO
AINA / REECE
NEW REGISTER (New Signing)
BARKLEY
PABLO SARABIA* (New Signing)
WILLIAN / PEDRO (Either)
HUDSON ODOI
MORATA / ABRAHAM / BATSHUAYI.
Written by AfroBlue May 18 2019 17:56:51
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