LONDON (AFP) - Maurizio Sarri arrived at Chelsea hailed for his spectacular style of play but seven months later the beleaguered Blues boss is on thin ice after responding to his team's troubles by stubbornly refusing to change his ways.
On a freezing Friday (Feb 1) at Chelsea's snow-covered training centre outside London, Sarri responded to reports he is in danger of being sacked by mounting a defiant defence of his philosophy.
Tensions have mounted over Sarri's misfiring tactics and his public criticism of his stars after poor results.
A humiliating 4-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Wednesday triggered an avalanche of abuse for the Italian.
For Sarri, the crisis is in stark contrast to the widespread praise that greeted his appointment, with his Napoli teams the darlings of the purists for their attacking game-plan.
"Napoli are spectacular and his brand of football is a joy to watch," Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said of Sarri.
Those summer compliments are now a distant memory, yet Sarri remains adamant his style will get results eventually.
"Why? First of all I want to do well with Plan A. I don't want to change something that doesn't work well at the moment," he told reporters when asked if he would consider changing his tactics.
"I want to see my football played very well. Then we can change something. Everybody knows Barcelona for 10 years because they play their football.
"I am a dreamer. I want to play my football."
Sarri's idealistic dream could become a nightmare unless he turns the tide quickly.
The Blues' worst league defeat for more than 22 years left their bid to qualify for the Champions League under severe threat.
Chelsea have dropped down to fifth place after winning only one of their past four Premier League games and face rock-bottom Huddersfield at Stamford Bridge on Saturday knowing a third successive defeat would be catastrophic.
Sarri had to apologise to an angry fan who confronted him in the car park at Bournemouth before being driven home alone to begin a long, sleepless night analysing exactly what went wrong.
TOUGHER THAN EXPECTED
Claiming he deserves the kind of time granted to Guardiola, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, Sarri said: "In the first season at Liverpool, Klopp was in the middle of the table.
"In England there are three teams above the others, In one the coach arrived five years ago, in one four years ago and in one three years ago.
"They had a plan and were really passionate. The situation for me is very clear."
Although Chelsea have earned a League Cup final date with Manchester City, there has been a growing sense for several months that the 60-year-old has not been able to make his players buy into his "Sarri-ball" method.
Chief among the concerns are his use of Jorginho as the defensive midfielder instead of N'Golo Kante, who had thrived in the position as a title-winner with Chelsea and Leicester.
Yet Sarri insisted nothing could persuade him to ditch that decision.
"Only 20 minutes if I have to defend a result," he said when the idea of restoring Kante to the position was mooted.
"It depends what you want from Jorginho. If you want the last pass he is not adapted. But he is very able to move the ball and build up the action."
Sarri held a 50-minute inquest with his players after the Bournemouth game and was quoted in Italy as saying they did not understand the basics of his approach.
In more conciliatory mood on Friday, he conceded it is down to him to win them over.
"I didn't attack the players, I talked to them because I needed to understand," he said.
"I said probably I am not able to motivate them. If we have some mental problems, the reasons could be the players, or it could be the technical staff.
"It is a part of my job. I want first of all to change the mentality. My football is cooperation. I have to speak to my players."
But, asked if he was finding life in the Premier League tougher than he expected, Sarri tellingly replied: "Probably yes."
Klopp: Liverpool 'did all we could' getty, Laurence Griffiths Jurgen Klopp said his Liverpool team could not have done anything more after they finished just one point behind defending champions Manchester City in their bid to win the Premier League title.
Klopp: Liverpool 'did all we could' in Premier League race
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 07, 2019, with the headline 'City in seventh heaven with Rotherham mauling'.
MAN CITY 7-0 ROTHERHAM | VLOG | SEVENTH HEAVEN! - youtube.com
RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Neymar "cried for two days" after injuring his right foot for a second time in January, he told Brazilian television according to an excerpt of an interview broadcast on
PSG star Neymar cried for two days after foot injury - myKhel
Premier League Clubs 'Strongly Opposed' to Proposed UEFA
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed his players as 'giants' after amazing win We played against maybe the best team in world. Winning is difficult but winning with a clean sheet, I don't
'These Boys Are Giants': Klopp Salutes Liverpool Heroes - The
Football: Chelsea held 2-2 by Burnley, denting Champions League hopes Chelsea's Jorginho (left) vies for the ball with Burnley's Chris Wood during a Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea held 2-2 by Burnley, denting Champions League hopes
The Premier League voiced "significant concerns" over potential reforms to the Champions League on Friday, saying the changes would damage the thriving domestic game. Reported reforms being put forward for further discussion include changing the current group stage from eight groups of four to four groups of eight, guaranteeing clubs far
Lakers coach Luke Walton was willing to shoulder the blame after his team fell, 131-120, to the Bucks following a costly turnover in the final minutes of Friday's game. Walton called a timeout
NBA fines James Harden for criticism of officials after
Best scene in the WHOLE movie. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.
Aaron Mooy in the sights of Wolves and Leeds - goal.com
MANCHESTER: Manchester City celebrated their domestic treble with an open-top bus parade on Monday, drawing an estimated 100,000 fans to the streets of the city centre. Pep Guardiola's City side
Treble Winners Manchester City Enjoy Parade | Football News
In an interview with Brazilian website UOL Esporte the 27-year-old's dad laughed off the idea of a switch to Real Madrid or elsewhere and said his son was more likely to extend his stay in the
Neymar's father says PSG extension more likely than Real
ABERDEEN, Scotland (AP) — A joint World Cup bid by North and South Korea is being talked up by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. "I have been hearing for the Women's World Cup in 2023, the two Koreas," Infantino said. "I have been hearing that. It would be great." A combined Olympic bid is already
May 27, 2019 · Aston Villa in Premier League heaven with Wembley play-off win over Derby has masterminded their return to the Premier League. to score twice at Elland Road in the semi-final second leg
Aston Villa vs. Derby County - Football Match Stats - espn.com
José Mourinho Where next for José Mourinho as Real Madrid have an itch to scratch? China has the money but not the prestige while Bayern Munich are another option José Mourinho may sound out Real Madrid fans display a giant banner thanking Jose Mourinho during his last La Liga match in charge, in 2013.
Where next for José Mourinho as Real Madrid have an itch to
Paul Pogba: Man United can turn it round in Barcelona two penalties to help Manchester United past West Ham on Saturday. the season to 16 with a pair of spot-kicks that saw him move away
Paul Pogba's penalty run-up 'would not have happened' under
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch champions league live streaming video
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch soccer am live stream
watch soccer live stream hunter
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch champions league final online free live streaming
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch champions league live streaming now
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch live soccer game today
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch premier league live streaming free
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch soccer live streaming hd
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch english premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
best site to watch live soccer streaming
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch the champions league live stream
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
tv soccer live stream sky
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch premier league live in stream
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch live streaming soccer games
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch premier league live stream hd
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch soccer live stream links
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch champions league final live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch soccer live stream apk
#GarageCafeDxb #realmadridcf #thebeatles #footballfans #valcea #linkstreaming #ucl #bayervshoffenheim #realmadrid #liverpoolcity #nutmeg #watchlive #girlsniteout #chocolate #rugby #barcelona #goal #crossfit #panini #commento #zinedinezidane #manchestercity #Celtic #433skills #bayern #gym #gooners #bundesliga #comico #BMW #footballschedule #frasirap #coutinho #conference #Vip45 #liverpool #fut #ronaldo #noelgallagher #adidasslipon #cr7 #sunderlandafc #manchestercity #premierleague #rockstar #ignoranza #alissonbecker #seriea #boxing #tokyo #battuteepiche #elcasico #MyDubai #freekickerz #streamingbolaid
No comments:
Post a Comment