Maurizio Sarri’s blueprint to save Chelsea (and himself) from Maurizio Sarri

Tactical tweaks true to the philosophy

Philosophy is how a manager wants the team to play. Tactics are how a team can play and how they need to in that particular match.

So what is Sarri’s philosophy? It is a high line zonal defense that presses quickly to allow for short, fast, and vertical passes that leave the opponent unprepared. He uses the 4-3-3 to do this with Jorginho in the center of midfield.

The problem Sarri’s side currently runs into is that they cannot play the ball quickly and vertically. Often, it turns into a stale possession with little to no penetration. Furthermore, the cut backs that were famous at Napoli are completely absent at Chelsea.

Swapping Jorginho with N’Golo Kante or adding a striker up top to put Eden Hazard back on the wing is not going to solve the issues. Chelsea lacks the necessary pressing forwards/wingers Sarri needs and he does not have a midfielder capable of creating and breaking the lines with Ruben Loftus-Cheek out.

Sarri has attempted one tweak in putting Hazard up top as the striker. Defensively, this made Chelsea stronger but it did nothing to fix the attacking issues.

Perhaps the simplest solution Sarri can look at is seeking inspiration for Guardiola who was seemingly inspired by Sarri. If Sarri has his high line drop deeper, and has the midfield attempt to lure opponents into a press, the pacy wingers of Chelsea can find much more space to operate with before the opponent can be prepared.

Change how substitutes are utilized

Everyone knows the types of substitutes Sarri will use before the match begins. A midfielder will come on, then a winger, and then a striker or winger. Every. Single. Time.

On its own, that is not necessarily a detriment. The problem is that it is almost always like for like in a 4-3-3 set up. While ahead, that is a fine thing to do. But when drawing or losing? That is when something needs to change.

Conte used those moments to change formation. The 3-4-3 would become a 3-5-2 or a 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 depending on what was most needed. While this did not always work, it was better than sticking with a plan that clearly was not working.

Sarri has previously used a 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-1-2 at various points in his career. Chelsea has the capability of swapping to either shape late to mix things up and change the situation. Sarri is currently hesitant to pull away from 4-3-3 too much because he feels like the team is not ready. Understandable as that may be, it would surely be better than hammering away with the same idea after an hour of it not working.