Per the usual after a loss, the Chelsea fanbase split into two very opposed camps. Maurizio Sarri is frustrated too but he also has to fix the issues.
Narratives pass through a fanbase like fire despite their obvious logical lapses. Losses are the spark to that fire most of the time but losses after weeks of languid play are like kerosene.
“You do not understand Sarrismo!” says the camp that does not understand why people are criticizing Chelsea. Ironically, those same people do not recognize that what they see on the pitch is by no means Sarrismo. “Sarri is a trophyless fraud” says those that think Sarri is satisfied with what he is seeing.
The truth as always lies in the middle. Sarri is just as frustrated by what he sees on the pitch as fans are. It is nothing close to the Sarrismo his Napoli side played and the manager himself would likely admit as much if asked. But Sarri also has the keys to the castle to make the changes needed.
Manchester City showed that a plan B did not need to be a completely different setup. It only needed to be small changes to adapt for issues. Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are not successful just because they have a clear philosophy, but because they know that their way is not perfect and needs constant adjustment.
But Chelsea still has issues as some of the tweaks from the City match have faded away. The passing is still heavily funneled through Jorginho, which makes an easy marking target. And while the front three can flow and confuse now, they still lack any sort of connection to one another.
This is not Sarrismo. Fans are frustrated because the play they are seeing is uninspired and frankly boring. Passing endlessly to create no space and hitting the final third like it is an impenetrable wall before losing it and doing it all over again. Sarri is just as unhappy as the fans over it.
He often points to the strange mentality the side has where they lack a killer instinct or lose all composure after conceding. But they also are playing possession for possession’s sake and that is not what Sarri wants. Sarri wants the ball moved quickly and forward. Side to side is only a way to create space to do so.
But time and time again, from Eden Hazard to Willian, players slow the play. And once it is slowed, it stops being what Sarri wants. The tactical advantage of his setup is gone. And everyone gets frustrated.
Against City, Sarri had the team not only sit deeper, but build deeper. This lured City in and created the space for fast counters. That was Sarrismo, albeit with a twist. Given how Leicester was willing to press until Chelsea got past the half that could have been a valid tactic.
Sarri should not be blamed solely for the loss. The players clearly are not doing what is required of them yet. But again, it is Sarri’s job to get them there and fix the issues that arise along the way. He may be frustrated like everyone else, but he is the one person with the ability to do something about it. And so far, he has been slow to react as he waits for the first way to work. He alone can fix his own frustration but he has to be willing to do so.