Chelsea Tactics and Transfers: Limit transfers to limit the variables

Chelsea FC managed to save the summer in some ways, not only adding Maurizio Sarri but his most influential protege, Jorginho. Chelsea shouldn’t feel pressured to push too hard past that achievement.

As is always the case with a new manager at Chelsea, there’s a great deal of optimism surrounding the appointment of Maurizio Sarri. Perhaps he really will be the manager who gets the Blues playing the style of football that has long been craved around Stamford Bridge. Perhaps he will even be the one to stay the always possible execution by Roman Abramovich.

That’s a big ask. Here’s a bigger one.

Chelsea should now batten down the hatches and stand pat during this transfer window. They should not make any further additions to the squad, outside of maybe a goalkeeper.

If Sarri is going to succeed with the amount of time he has he is going to need to control as many variables as possible. He’s a new manager in the hardest division in football with only a few weeks to train his squad. Complicating it with nervous and unnecessary moves will only hurt the team.

Adding Jorginho was a necessary risk. He and Sarri already have a good relationship and it will be good for him to have someone who can speak among the players about the successes the system can bring. It’s always important to add a lieutenant with any new manager as it helps ingratiate him with the squad. Past that though every other transfer is either unnecessary or a risk that is too large.

One of the more talked about options is Gonzalo Higuain of Juventus. Chelsea should not do this deal. If Sarri can coach well enough, there is nothing in the world Higuain can do that Alvaro Morata cannot. Particularly considering Higuain is going on 31 years old, has never played in the division and has a particularly worrying fitness history, this does not make any sense.

Rejecting the Higuain talk could be the move that actually gets the best out of the permanently adolescent Spanish striker. Morata is too important of a signing for Chelsea to simply give up on him after a season.

Daniele Rugani would be an interesting signing, but an unnecessary one. Sarri is likely to move to a back four instead of a back three, which already reduces the number of center back spots. Chelsea already have Antonio Rudiger, Gary Cahill, Andreas Christensen, David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta (in the running, but competes for other places), Ethan Ampadu (whose future I see as a center-back) and Kurt Zouma.  The last thing Chelsea need is a new center-back.

With the Europa League in store, Chelsea would do well to let Sarri simply coach the players they already have for a season and fully assess his squad. Players like Willian, David Luiz and Thibaut Courtois should all leave before then, and that’s why maybe an additional goalkeeper could be useful.

But other than that, it is not necessary for Chelsea to add too much. Standing pat and simply letting the squad grow organically could be the best move. Ditching the three previously-named locker rooms cancers should be seen as a move to aid that process rather than harm it.

Chelsea will need to build a spirit and unity under Maurizio Sarri. With the new young players and the dawn of a new age on the horizon, the last thing Chelsea need is three self-centered, publicly griping and shamelessly self-promoting veterans. Their presence kills the spirit too much for the club to have a healthy year.

Chelsea can add a top-class goalkeeper to replace Thibaut Courtois.  They already missed out on Alban LaFont to Fiorentina and Allison Becker to Liverpool. But targeting Nick Pope, Jan Oblak or even a returning Petr Cech would not be bad options.

There’s simply no need to replace David Luiz.  He barely plays and, well, getting rid of him is just a bonus.

The same is true for Willian. It is a shame Willian tanked what was such a promising Chelsea career with the sort of behavior people usually grow out of in about 6th year but more often 5th. He never locked down his role on the wing, and between Pedro, Victor Moses and Callum Hudson-Odoi there should be a truly open competition. If Odoi is who he’s supposed to be, then he should win out fairly often and make the right impressons.

Chelsea could be interested in signing a few wingers if the opportunity arose, but anything over £60 million would be silly for them: Christian Pulisic or Leon Bailey. Chelsea already missed out on Malcolm with their snail-slow pace this summer, which is a tragedy. But if either of those players’ clubs wanted too much, Chelsea would be better off saving the money.

Then comes the Eden Hazard issue. Chelsea would obviously like to keep him, and he is a world-class player. That said, he’s been growing more and more restless and disrespectful towards the club recently, and that sort of behavior simply can’t be tolerated.

If he quiets down and learns the club is bigger than him, Chelsea should try to re-sign him. He will do well in Sarri’s football and it could be interesting to see him grow into wanting to stay.

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If Chelsea can lock him down on another contract that would be good. too. But at age 27 and Chelsea holding two more years on his contract the club is in the driving seat. They should act like it for once. Any offer under £225-250 million should simply be laughed at.

Solidifying their position, building a spirit and getting the players to buy into the new system should be the goals for this season. Chelsea can do that and easily qualify for the Champions League. Once that’s done, the saved money from this summer in addition to next opens the door to a £300-400 million splash. By then they will have had time to properly identify targets, decide on a plan for acquiring them and communicate clearly within the club as to the targets and necessities for that season.

First, though, Maurizio Sarri must focus on getting his idea of football ingrained in the squad and his philosophy aligned with the players. That is more necessary to success than I can really put into words.

Next: Do not get too stuck on Maurizio Sarri's formations

There’s a lot to be hopeful for here, even if it does feel like we’re revisiting someplace we’ve been time and time again.