HE’S ON BRINK
MAURIZIO SARRI paced the technical area like a defendant in a cell awaiting the jury’s decision.
But the guilty verdict had already been delivered on him and his shambolic side, 4-0 down after just 25 minutes, with no answer to the ruthless brilliance of Manchester City.
After an impressive start to his Chelsea reign, the wheels have come off in spectacular fashion for Sarri. A 4-0 defeat at Bournemouth 12 days ago was a chastening experience, but this 6-0 humbling by City was total humiliation, the kind that gets a manager the sack.
Much was made of Sarri’s arrival at Chelsea from Napoli last summer. But for the
Blues and their fans, Sarri seems to be the hardest word, with their team clueless, their manager admitting he struggles to motivate them and their top-four place now in serious jeopardy.
Jorginho (above) – a £57million summer signing – was so peripheral, at times you had to remind yourself the midfielder was actually playing.
Ross Barkley provided the assist for Sergio Aguero’s second with an inexplicable header back towards his own goal. He was put out of his misery when he was hooked after 52 minutes.
This game began a run of seven in 22 days for Chelsea, which includes Manchester United in the FA Cup, Tottenham in the Premier League and the EFL Cup final against City.
After this horror show, Sarri – if still in charge – and his players could be forgiven for not turning up at Wembley on February 24 to face City. It might just be safer that way. FROM BACK PAGE his 11th Premier League hat-trick to go level with Alan Shearer on the all-time list.
Sarri is on the brink, the humiliation at City coming 11 days after a 4-0 defeat at Bournemouth.
Asked if he felt he was at risk of the sack, Sarri said: “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask the club.
“If the president calls, I’ll be happy, seeing as I never hear from him. To be honest, I don’t know what to expect. I’m worried about my team, worried about the performance, but my job is always at risk so I’m not too worried about that.”
City boss Pep Guardiola, blanked by Sarri at the final whistle, pledged his support for the Italian.
“People don’t understand how difficult the first year can be,” he said. “You need time.”