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

Centerback’s role in Sarrismo

Defend. The. Zone. Zonal defense is part of Sarri’s bread and butter but if just one player fails to commit to a ball in their zone (or where the zones overlap) a goal will be found. Nearly every goal Chelsea has conceded this season has been due to one of the centerbacks getting confused by whether they should commit in their zone or stay put. With the ball, they offer a back pass option and if Jorginho is marked out, they become the de facto deep lying player makers to bypass the midfield.

David Luiz

Does he understand?: Luiz knows what he has to do for Sarri, otherwise he would not have remained a starter for this long. If Jorginho gets marked out, Luiz can drop passes from deep to cope.

Is he ideal?: For the rest of the season, he can do the job. Longer than that? No. Luiz is the greatest culprit of failing to commit when the zones are exploited. And because this is Luiz, he will often drive forward when he really, really should not. If he drives forward with the ball, it is usually because something else has collapsed in the system but it does not alleviate the damage.

What is the way forward?: Survive. Luiz is unlikely to stay past this season. Until then, he can get the job done at the back and he does have a tendency to turn up for big games. But it is the other games that will determine Chelsea’s top four hopes. Luiz has had several matches where he has looked disinterested in the system. If Luiz can minimize the damage of those days and keep them from hurting Chelsea, he will be alright until a new plan can be made in the summer.

Antonio Rudiger

Does he understand?: Rudiger is the more traditional centerback in the current starting pair. His passing is solid regardless of range and he is quite good at last ditch tackles. He will commit through zone confusion and allow others around him to push forward as he covers.

Is he ideal?: The only less than ideal thing Rudiger does is he becomes scrappy when frustrated. It has not happened nearly as much this season as last, but it is still there. Other than that, he is a centerback to build the squad around. If Rudiger can buy in to whatever it is Chelsea is selling, he can be a key cog in the machine for years to come. Perhaps even a future captain.

What is the way forward?: There really is not much Rudiger can do to improve on what he is already doing. Perhaps he could make some of the drives and long balls that Luiz makes (at the right moments) but with Luiz next to him he is just as fine allowing Luiz to do that job.

Andreas Christensen

Does he understand?: In part. Christensen knows he needs to be part of building out of the back and he is comfortable with that. But he will not launch the ball long and he will often try a short pass that puts the team in a very precarious position. He knows the role, but he gets in his own head at least once a match and then it is downhill from there.

Is he ideal?: On paper, he really should be. He is smart positionally and on the ball. But as just stated, he gets in his own head. And once he does, it is game over. That has happened ever since his mistake cost Chelsea a win against Barcelona in the Champions League. Even despite the clear mistakes every game, he still thinks he is an elite centerback. And he is, but he needs to actually show that before anyone believes it again.

What is the way forward?: Christensen has got to turn up in the matches he is played in. None of his appearances have been enough to unseat Luiz even when Luiz has been on a circus tour. Does he get a chance when Luiz goes? As of right now he has not done enough to deserve that. He may yet force a move elsewhere but it is highly likely that, assuming he does not fix his mistakes, he will fall into the same situation he is currently in.

Gary Cahill

Does he understand?: More or less. Cahill shares the same issue with Zappacosta; he is only really average in this system. It is a myth that Cahill cannot play a high line or a build from the back style, but he is also not the type that will stand out in the system. He has not been given much of a look but he does know what needs to be done.

Is he ideal?: Cahill is an excellent player who is, at worse, midtable starter quality. Is he ideal for Sarrismo? Not really. Again, he can only really get the job done in the system and that is not enough to justify a start. Given his age, it is best his spot goes to someone younger and more suited to the setup.

What is the way forward?: Wait a few days to move to another club. It seems incredibly likely that Cahill moves on from Chelsea in the January transfer window. It is unfortunate but it is what it is. If he does somehow stay, he will not play much if at all and will simply leave in the summer. Cahill’s Chelsea career has no effective way forward sadly.

Special mention: Ethan Ampadu

Does he understand?: It was expected that the youth would see more minutes in the cups and Europa League than they have. Instead, they have almost gone missing. Ampadu has barely played and one of the moments when he did play, it was in a brand new position. The kid is very much ready for professional football and has shown enough understanding in preseason and after to get more minutes.

Is he ideal?: Ampadu is a full Welsh international. He can play midfield, he can play centerback, and according to Sarri he can play rightback. Even at 18, he looks ready for Premier League football week in and week out every time he plays. The biggest remaining question might be where to play him but if given the minutes, Ampadu will prove himself ready.

What is the way forward?: Given how little Ampadu has played this season, the best situation may be a loan. It will not be career ending if he only gets a few looks here and there throughout the season, but by next season he needs to be playing far more than he has this season. Sarri just has to decide on a position and show the kid the trust he has earned.