Several months in and there is still some confusion as to whether Chelsea understands Sarrismo. Do the forwards 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?
Part one (keepers and defense) can be found here and part two (midfield) can be found here.
Winger’s role in Sarrismo
The winger needs to be one of the most flexible players on the pitch. At any moment they could end up on the opposite flank and they need to be just as comfortable there. Offensively, they are to stretch the opponent out and be the main thrust of a vertical pass. Defensively, they have to press hard and fast .
Pedro
Does he understand?: Pedro was practically built for Sarrismo. He is just as capable on one flank as the other and he is always looking for a fast pass. Pedro is very much a team player and he has bought in to this team’s new system.
Is he ideal?: What made Pedro less than ideal over time for Barcelona has made him more ideal overtime for Chelsea. But the biggest knock against him is his age. Chelsea does not want to build an attack around a player over 30 and despite Pedro being perfect for Sarrismo, his time is limited.
What is the way forward?: Pedro will go till the wheels fall off. When they do, Sarri and Chelsea will be unable to get anything more out of him. Despite a hard first season (for everyone at Chelsea), Pedro has put in great work during his Chelsea career and will continue to do so until he runs out of gas.
Willian
Does he understand?: Frankly, no. Sarrismo is about fast, vertical passing before the opponent can prepare. Willian’s first, second, and third instinct is to trap the ball, sit on the ball, and wait on the ball. If Willian were playing at Barcelona, that would be fine because their possession is actually possession focused. Chelsea’s is not and all Willian does by slowing the play is kill Sarrismo.
Is he ideal?: Again, no. Willian can do a job here and there but overall his style of play does not mesh with Sarrismo at all. That does not mean he is a bad player, but he is a bad player for Sarri. Why Sarri has persisted with him so much despite the clear deficient and clash of style is unknown. But it will not last forever.
What is the way forward?: Either Willian can completely change his mentality of play over 30 or he departs. That is pretty much what it comes down to. He harms what is the very basis of Sarrismo and with Christian Pulisic incoming, Willian should be the one outgoing.
Eden Hazard
Does he understand?: One of the special things about Hazard is he can be put in any system and understand what his role is. Part of that is most managers just let him do his own thing and build around that. But total freedom is actually a hindrance to Hazard at times and Sarri has yet to find the perfect formula.
Is he ideal?: Sarri has played around most with how he uses Hazard. Sometimes he is a true winger cutting in, other times he drops deep and central and almost becomes a number 10. There has been no secret formula found yet and unfortunately the team gets too Hazard focused to their own detriment at times.
What is the way forward?: Sarri may have found the solution by putting Hazard as the striker, but the Belgian may or may not favor that. Is that the best use of Hazard? It is hard to tell because with him wide, the team is more defensively open and less cutting in attack. Finding out the right use of Hazard may be one of the keys to Sarrismo succeeding or failing at Chelsea this season.