Blues looking a Sarri bunch
MAURIZIO SARRI’S home debut as Chelsea manager turned out to be damp squib last night – as the London heatwave finally broke with a huge downpour.
The Italian saw his reshaped side frustrated in an entertaining 0-0 friendly draw with Lyon at Stamford Bridge before winning 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out.
But worryingly for Sarri, the Blues again failed in front of goal. In fact, with the signing of a new goalkeeper in Athletic Bilbao’s £72m Kepa Arrizabalaga set to be announced today, plus a loan deal for Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, there was more action off the field than on it.
Sarri made 11 changes from the team who lost to Manchester City in the Community Shield. Eden Hazard, told this week he would not be sold with Real Madrid keen, was on the bench just a day after arriving back from his post-World Cup holidays. He got a big cheer as he stepped out – as someone who opted to train on Monday rather than go AWOL like team-mate Thibaut Courtois – and an even bigger one when he came on late in the game.
Tiemoue Bakayoko, a player threatened by the imminent arrival of Kovacic and linked to a loan move to AC Milan, was in midfield. Lyon should have taken the lead but Houssem Aouar fired wide. Then Chelsea’s young team got going, a Willian free-kick saved by Anthony Lopes while Ruben LoftusCheek hit the outside of the post before being taken off. Sarri threw on £57m new signing Jorginho, N’Golo Kante and Ross Barkley, and Kante immediately forced a fine save from Lopes after a neat move sprung by Jorginho.
Tammy Abraham then put a header just wide but Chelsea in front of goal looked blunt.