Chelsea Tactics and Transfers: Hazard as false-9 caps first stage of Sarrismo

Chelsea beat Brighton and Hove Albion over the weekend and showed exactly what is right and wrong about this first stage of Sarrismo.

While Chelsea dominated the first half and were two goals ahead at the break, they never truly dominated again Chris Hughton’s resilient Brighton side. Sarrismo has shown time and time again this year to be an effective, if not overpowering, style of football. That is particularly true against sides that are well-organized, disciplined and don not overreact.

Chelsea are in a good position of course. They are fourth in the Premier League and doing well in the Europa League. They are learning the system and making progress in every match, while they continue to familiarize themselves with Maurizio Sarri’s expectations.

This newest version of the team with Eden Hazard as the central striker is likely the final iteration of Chelsea FC this season. Since Chelsea continue to have one of the more mediocre and aging squads among the top sides in the league, Sarri had to reach back to his own past at Napoli and his predecessor’s past at Chelsea.

Alvaro Morata’s impotence and Giroud’s natural limitations left the best XI needing more. Until Chelsea are able to upgrade in the transfer market they will have no choice but to play this way. They lack a true striker, and the defense remains someplace between mediocre and poor.

This, of course, raises the question of how much Eden Hazard will want to stay in this situation. Sure, he is having more fun under Sarri. But for a player at this stage in his career, being the centerpiece of such an unfinished situation is not particularly enticing.

Chelsea and Real Madrid are in relatively similar rebuilding circumstances. The being difference is that when Real Madrid need to rebuild they can splash £500 million and yawn with disinterest at the sum they’re spending.

Of course, one must hope Eden Hazard stays. His settled family situation and the curiosity of Sarri’s football in England has the potential to keep him in Blue until the end of his career. There’s a chance that happens, but it is by no means assured.

The midfield situation continues to perplex. Why isn’t Ruben Loftus-Cheek playing more? He continues to show himself to be the young English version of Michael Ballack every time he steps on the pitch. Mateo Kovacic hasn’t been great in recent weeks and was particularly clumsy on Sunday. If it is between Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek for 80% of the starts it should without a doubt go the way of the titanic homegrown player. He adds physicality and height to a side so thoroughly lacking in both qualities.

The midfield is more a fascination of riches. At least Chelsea have options there.

Meanwhile, the defense is the sort of thing that would make the great Greek tragedies appear comic by comparison.

David Luiz continues to demonstrate a wonderful array of attacking talent while forgetting his primary purpose. Antonio Rudiger, who once seemed amused and enticed by the idea of partnering the Brazilian, now seems exhausted by it and far worse by comparison. Sadly, though, the options only get worse. Some sequel to invasion of the body snatchers appears to have befallen Andreas Christensen, who looks weak and mistake-prone every time he’s on the ball.

The only answer at this point is to play Ethan Ampadu. But since he’s a teenager that simply won’t happen.

Yes, I know Rio Ferdinand, Sergio Ramos and Paolo Maldini began starting for better teams than this current Chelsea at his age, but shut your mouth. Surely you know sense has nothing to do with it. This is Chelsea FC we’re talking about. We don’t want to be good now and even better later by stretching his ceiling with early teaching experiences and letting his relationship with Rudiger develop so they’d have nearly 100 starts together by the time Ampadu was 21. That would be insane.

Chelsea are peaking now for the season. They’re good at the moment and we should be happy. The team isn’t very talented and yet they’re still managing to make progress and move in the right direction. Bless them for that.

The interesting thing will be seeing how Chelsea move forward. In a season such as this when they’re not going to win anything, how will they handle it? Chelsea are full of loaded questions. Which will they answer first?