Chelsea Sarrismo part one: Do the keepers and defense get it?

Several months in and there is still some confusion as to whether Chelsea understands Sarrismo. Do the keepers and defense know their roles in it?

A half season in and some players seem to truly understand their role in Sarrismo while others are playing a totally different setup. Of the players with 500 or more minutes (plus some special mentions), who understands their role in Sarrismo? Who is ideal for their role? And what is the way forward for them?

Keeper’s role in Sarrismo

The keeper’s first job will always be to stop goals. That is true for any keeper on any team at any level anywhere in the world. Offensively, they have the additional role of being a back pass option while building from the back. They also may be asked to launch it long and accurately to start a faster attack.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Does he understand?: Yes, Arrizabalaga understands his place in Sarrismo. Of course, he was pretty much handpicked by the club for that very purpose.

Is he ideal?: Again, yes. Alisson may have been a more complete product, but Arrizabalaga has very quickly and easily grown into the role.

What is the way forward?: Keep doing what he is doing. Many expected a lot out of Arrizabalaga for his price tag, and he has lived up to it. Bar any sudden regression, he is the easy choice between the sticks for the foreseeable future.

Special mention: Willy Caballero

Does he understand?: Caballero has not played a great deal of minutes even by backup keeper standards. When he has played, he has not looked confused when receiving a back pass but then again the role is not nearly as specialized as it is elsewhere in Sarrismo.

Is he ideal?: Apparently not. Maybe Maurizio Sarri does not trust Caballero due to his more wild tendencies. Maybe he simply prefers to give Arrizabalaga more reps in a new country with a new team. Regardless, it appears the trust is not there with Sarri so questions should be asked as to why the international backup keeper is not playing.

What is the way forward?: All Caballero can really do now is wait till the end of his contract. The Europa League already belonged to Arrizabalaga alone so that will not change in the knockout stages. Caballero may get a match here and there in the FA Cup, but that is all he will get this season.