Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea tasted defeat for the first time at home on Saturday. Sarri does not need to look far to understand what is happening around him.
Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte parted ways with Chelsea FC once results went against them after a title-winning season. A common characteristic of both men was their stubbornness. They were not ready to tweak the system or take chances with the players they had.
A team usually has around 25 players for the season season. A coach’s job is to use them effectively as the season progress in a way that benefits the team. Nobody can guarantee a player or system will perform consistently for 9-10 months.
The ineffectiveness of how they used the players in hand had a significant impact on Mourinho’s and Conte’s sacking. It’s normal for managers to show some players more affection than others. Some players thrive in that extra bit of attention and warmthy. But the issue rises when that player is not making a positive impact.
During Mourinho’s dreadful last season at Chelsea he refused to drop under-performing players, particularly Branislav Ivanovic. Nor was Mourinho the least bit willing to tweak his tactical system. Despite having a brilliant academy, Mourinho gave none of the youngsters a chance.
Conte’s final season was not much different. Despite tiredness due to lack of rest for players like Marcos Alonso, he refused to drop them. He was not keen to change from the back-three and his overall style of play. Many players were left unused. Under-performing players like Tiemoue Bakayoko and Willian were given extended runs in the team.
Maurizio Sarri’s start to life as Chelsea’s coach has shades of Antonio Conte’s and Jose Mourinho’s downfalls. Alonso and Willian are not dropped despite their poor form. Willian, in particular, has started almost all matches for Sarri even though he has been consistently pretty awful. Sarri is so committed to keeping Willian in his preferred left wing spot, that he is playing one of the best left wingers in the world – Eden Hazard – as false nine.
Players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi have performed well when they have had their chances. Still, Sarri overlooks them for Willian. There is a reason why Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are courting Hudson-Odoi.
Another issue is with the system. Even though luck was not with Chelsea against Leicester, the tactics must bear some blame. There were lot of passes in front of the penalty box without any end product. Chelsea were crying for a creator in the middle of the park until Cesc Fabregas was introduced in the 75′.
Unless Sarri rectifies these issues, bad results will pop up often. A coach should be able to use his players and system effectively to sustain results – and his job – in the world of football. Else it won’t be long before he follows his predecessors out the door.