Sarri has his Chelsea side fired up for Burnley rout
AS Maurizio Sarri made his way from the dugout at the end of this victory, he had between his lips the filter for a roll-up cigarette. He would have been forgiven had he been chewing a large Cuban cigar.
As they eased themselves into second in the Premier League, his Chelsea side was quite magnificent here; full of invention, industry and physical endeavour. And all this without their best player.
Eden Hazard had not recovered from the back issue that kept him out of the midweek Europa League win. That his absence was barely noticed is testament to the cohesion and spirit Sarri has instilled.
Burnley knew they were in for a testing afternoon as early as the 12th minute when Joe Hart arced his back to tip Alvaro Morata’s sharp header over the bar.
A minute later Willian hit a post. And then came the inevitable.
N’Golo Kante received the ball in midfield and, as he does, played it carefully to Ross Barkley. He threaded a pass between the Burnley centre-backs into Morata’s path and the Spaniard poked it with the toe of his right boot.
Brightest
Pedro was taken off after just half an hour looking under the weather and was replaced by Ruben LoftusCheek. Which meant Chelsea now had England’s brightest midfield prospects in harness.
And how they flourished together. Early in the second-half, Barkley showed what he can do. After Kante provided him with the ball, he simply strode forward unchecked and fired an astute left-foot shot into the corner of Hart’s net.
Kante, though, is the man who makes the difference for Sarri and the Frenchman was masterful.
His laser-guided navigation was the key – in contrast to Jeff Hendrick, who was seemingly never in a position to affect the game.
Outwitted and outclassed, Burnley were reduced to fouling, with Robbie Brady shown a yellow card for tripping Loftus-Cheek.
The physicality did not constrict Chelsea; Willian added a third goal, as he drifted across the front of the Burnley defence before hammering a shot beyond Hart, before LoftusCheek hit his fourth goal in a week, poking home Marcos Alonso’s backheel after a scramble in the box.
Not that such a masterful display changed the manager’s mind about what he thinks is necessary to maintain Chelsea’s title bid.
“I want Hazard in every match if it’s possible,” Sarri said. “I am very happy because the team were able to score seven goals in two matches without Hazard. But I want Eden (back) as soon as possible.” (©The Daily Telegraph)