SARRI-BALL? HORRI-BLE!

But Blues boss won’t change his ways, even if it costs him his job

THERE was no budging. Not an inch. No giving way to the fans, the pundits, the experts – or even his players.

“Sarri-ball” is going to be the way it is at Chelsea. The man who invented it is not for turning.

Maurizio Sarri might well be facing the sack in the next week if his team’s miserable run does not change. But the 60-year-old Italian will go out doing it his way if, and more likely when, he goes.

Chelsea’s manager (with Gonzalo Higuain, left) is clinging to his job. Though tonight’s Europa League last-32 clash against Malmo should be a formality, defeat in the League Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday could see the end of his seven-month reign. If not, defeat at home to Tottenham on Wednesday in the league almost certainly will.

The fans have turned on the Blues boss and Monday’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United saw furious supporters, in their team’s fifth defeat in the last 10 games, sing “F**k Sarri-ball” and “You don’t know what you’re doing” at the Italian.

But Sarri – who has been sacked four times in his 13-club senior management career – is not wavering. “The system is a false problem,” he said. “It’s very easy to change the fans’ opinions. “We need to win three or four matches in a row. It’s the only solution. The fans are used to winning.

“It is very difficult to think we are able to win three or four matches in a row. But in football, everything can change in one day. First of all, we need a good performance and result. Then, with more confidence, we can do everything. “I have to think I will be manager of Chelsea for a long time, otherwise I cannot work. I am not sure it will work, but I have to think this. I want to work with a long-term target.

“We are trying to solve our problems. We are trying to talk with the players. We are trying to avoid mistakes. “This is not my most difficult time as a manager. I had a lot of problems in the past, especially in League One and League Two in Italy. It’s very difficult to be a coach in Italy at that level.” Defender Antonio Rudiger (with his manager, above) admitted that learning “Sarriball” has been mentally tiring for players. He said: “It’s the same if you sit in school the whole time listening to someone. It gets ‘mental’ but, at the end of the day, you have to do your job.” Sarri faces a problem for Sunday’s final against City, with keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga struggling with a hamstring injury.