MAURIZIO THE MISER

Strikers can’t score but Sarri demands better defence

MAURIZIO SARRI says he is more worried about his defence than his struggling strikers.

Chelsea’s £60m forward Alvaro Morata has managed just three goals so far this season, while French World Cup winner Olivier Giroud has not found the net for the Blues at all.

But despite keeping six clean sheets this season and only conceding seven goals in nine Premier League games, Chelsea boss Sarri is still not satisfied.

Only leaders Manchester City and second-placed Liverpool have let in fewer goals this term.

But the former Napoli manager said: “Usually the team that wins the title is the team who concedes the fewest goals.

Tightest

“That is the way it is in Italy. So we have to improve defensively.”

In Serie A Juventus have won the title for the last four years and each time had the most miserly defence.

That’s not always the case in the Premier League, though, where the team with the tightest backline has only won the title three times in the last nine years.

“A month ago we were concerned about the fact the midfielders were not scoring,” added Sarri ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Burnley.

“Now in the last three games, Ross Barkley’s scored two and Ruben Loftus-Cheek three.

“If we are able to continue to play our football, in a month the strikers will be scoring.

“Everyone knows the characteristics of Giroud. He does not usually score a lot of goals, but he is always very useful for the team. Giroud is not a problem.

“Morata in the last three matches has scored two goals. But they can do better.

“The most important thing is the team continue to play their football.”

Thursday night’s 3-1 Europa League win over BATE Borisov maintained Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season.

But Sarri said: “We conceded space and conceded a very stupid goal and I didn’t like it.

“It’s dangerous. If you make the same mistakes against a very high level of opponent like Liverpool or Manchester United, you are in trouble.

We must control matches better, especially when in the lead.”