Rudiger tired of Sarri classroom methods
CHELSEA defender Antonio Rudiger has described life under beleaguered boss Maurizio Sarri as a return to the classroom and conceded players can become mentally tired. The picture of an increasingly fractured dressing room was underlined when Rudiger was asked whether Sarri’s habit of asking players to train on the morning of games was having a negative impact. The 25-year-old German said: ‘Fatigue, no. It’s not physical. It’s the tactical things he likes to do. That’s his way, he’s carrying on. It’s new for the majority of the players but we have to adapt to it.’ Asked if it becomes mentally tiring, Rudiger said: ‘It’s the same if you sit in the school the whole time listening to someone. Of course, sometimes, it gets mental, but at the end of the day you have to do your job.’ Rudiger also conceded confidence is low, adding: ‘We are always working in training, trying to do better each day. I think, right now, it’s about confidence. It’s not a tactical aspect, in my view. It’s confidence. We are underperforming.’ Rudiger believes that the moment of reckoning will come in the next two games, against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday and Tottenham in the Premier League the following Wednesday. He said: ‘On Sunday, a big game against City at Wembley. That will show the truth. That will show our way this season.’ Asked if the players retain faith in Sarri’s style of play, Rudiger said: ‘I’m not the coach, I’m a football player. This is something the coach has to decide and we have to follow. You always play for your manager, but you want results. You want to win.’ Tonight in the Europa League they face the relatively straightforward task of finishing off Malmo at Stamford Bridge after winning the first leg in Sweden 2-1. Chelsea are believed to be considering a change of manager and defeat against Malmo or City may be enough to end Sarri’s reign. Chelsea are understood to have major reservations about Sarri’s assistant and club legend Gianfranco Zola and Paulo Ferreira and Eddie Newton may be preferred if the Blues require a caretaker boss.