If Maurizio Sarri wants his players to change, he must be the first to adapt. Showing that he has a Plan B is his only chance of keeping the Chelsea job.
Maurizio Sarri’s press conference leading up to the fixture against Huddersfield left quite the impression on those listening closely. Sarri’s tactics in the previous match against Bournemouth took the focus off the upcoming match. The manager answered many of the same questions with largely identical answers, proving his inability to change extends further than the pitch.
Possibly the most alarming response in his press conference was when he discussed a possible backup plan to his possession-based tactics. The Italian siad that in order to begin to adapt a Plan B, his side needed to perfect Plan A. However, if Sarri would like to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge longer than one season, he must begin to adapt.
Maurizio Sarri’s tactics aren’t as useless as some of the fanbase make them out to be, but they are not flawless. After a scorching start to the season, the hype around Chelsea has come to a screeching halt after an abysmal performance at Bournemouth. The players’ inability to play Sarri’s style and Sarri’s inability to motivate them are the reasons given for poor performances.
However, the blame doesn’t lie solely with the players. That’s not to say the mentality did not change after conceding within two minutes to begin the second half, but Sarri did absolutely nothing to counter Eddie Howe’s game plan.
The manager asked for patience and he’s been given that. But when do things start to change for the better?
Things will only turn around when an effective Plan B is implemented and used in a match. Too many opposing managers counter Sarri’s style of play with ease.
Mauricio Pochettino paved the way for opponents to break down Sarrismo on November 24, when the midfield diamond – specifically Dele Alli – rendered Jorginho useless. Then, it happened again at Wolves, at Arsenal and most recently at Bournemouth.
It’s going to keep happening until Sarri decides to adapt, which he swears he will not do until his players perfect his style of play. If he holds true to his statement, the next few months are going to be much like the concluding months of last season under Antonio Conte. A managerial change will likely conclude the suffering.
A Plan B does not have to be a complete turnaround. Plan B does not mean Sarri needs to scrap his tactics and start from scratch. It simply means he needs to try something new. Whether it’s lineup changes or different substitutions, something has to give.
Sarri is a man of habit. Stubborn, if you will. He pencils in the same lineup for nearly every league game. When it is time for substitutions, he swaps Ross Barkley for Mateo Kovacic, Willian for Pedro and brings on Olivier Giroud for whichever striker started the given match. It’s clockwork.
While Antonio Conte isn’t exactly the best example from a large sample size, he deserves praise for some of his brilliant substitutions throughout the years. As just one example, he brought on for Michy Batshuayi for Eden Hazard at the Hawthorns and Batshuayi secured the title for Chelsea with a decisive goal. When’s the last time Sarri made a substitution that impactful? We have yet to see it.
Sarri should continue to start many of the players who have been starting this season. The side cannot handle drastic change at the moment.
With Cesc Fabregas gone and no replacement from the January transfer window, somebody needs to backup Jorginho. After a rather sloppy performance against Sheffield Wednesday, we now know Ethan Ampadu is likely not that person. But, his replacement in the FA Cup tie may be.
Mateo Kovacic posses all the qualities needed to backup Jorginho and may be a positive change for both himself and the team. Not to knock Jorginho, but he’s seemingly a one-trick pony. Opponents take him out of games and he gets flustered too easily. In these types of situations, the best move is to swap Kovacic for Jorginho. Kovacic is better on the ball, more comfortable playing deep and has a better eye for moving effectively on the pitch.
While Ross Barkley started the season on fire, he’s done little to justify his selection in the last few months. Regardless of form, he’s not the best overall option. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is. With the youngster now fully healthy, Chelsea need his return to the starting XI.
Loftus-Cheek brings a different dynamic to this Chelsea squad. His toughness on the ball, fantastic relationship with Eden Hazard and quick feet allow him to make runs into the box from the center of the pitch, something the Blues have been missing. Against Bournemouth, every attack came from the wing. That allowed the Cherries to remain compact in the center of the pitch, keep shape and hit Chelsea on the counter. That wouldn’t have happened had Loftus-Cheek been slicing through the central defense.
Another upside to Loftus-Cheek’s style of play is how better involves the striker. Gonzalo Higuain was largely ineffective in his first two starts in a Chelsea shirt. In all fairness, his teammates presented him with limited opportunities.
Sarri has said the team needs to do more with the striker, and the way to do that is starting Loftus-Cheek as the attacking midfielder.
With those changes and more creative substitutes, Sarri will have one fantastic Plan B that contrasts the style of play in his first-choice tactics without changing too much. Two changes will not make or break the side, but they could be the difference in whether or not Sarri manages Chelsea next season.
Despite the disarray Chelsea sit in a very favorable position right now. The Blues are in a three-way race for a Champions League position and have a worthwhile chance at three trophies.
But if Chelsea continues to perform at the level they did in January, they will squander all of those fantastic opportunities and the club will be forced to make a change. Sarri may not be open to the idea of change, but he’s going to need to open his mind up a bit.
If he doesn’t, his stubbornness may cost him his dream job. He should know the Chelsea hierarchy are ruthless to those who don’t deliver.
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