Sarri warns Chelsea still months from best form
Board were alerted to problems, says manager Italian criticises club’s pre-season schedule
It seemed optimistic for a Chelsea head coach to be discussing next summer ahead of his first season at the club, but Maurizio Sarri insisted the board already knew of the “problems” that lie ahead.
Sarri is the 11th manager to work under owner Roman Abramovich and he will be aware that time is a commodity few of the billionaire’s employees are afforded.
Antonio Conte lasted two seasons, despite winning the Premier League and FA Cup in that time.
Sarri has been at Chelsea for four weeks and has worked with Eden Hazard, N’golo Kante and new goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga – all of whom are in line to start against Huddersfield Town today – for only a matter of days. “We are not at the top of our potential,” said Sarri, who will be without striker Michy Batshuayi after he joined Valencia yesterday on a season-long loan.
“We did a pre-season – what can I say – unusual, maybe. So, now we are not at the top. I hope to be at the top of the potential of the squad in one or two months.
“I hope that the second part of the season will be very good with a lot of points. I expect in the first part of the season some problems.”
Sarri did not go as far as ruling Chelsea out of the title race before it has started, but, asked what problems he expected to encounter, the 59-yearold added: “On the results. Maybe the performances in the first part of the season will not be in line with the potential of the squad.”
That may not have been what the Chelsea board envisaged when they brought in Sarri, but he insisted: “They know it. They know it very well.”
Just five days after succeeding Conte, Sarri had to take his squad, minus their World Cup players, to Australia for a friendly before competing in the International Champions Cup that finished for Chelsea only on Tuesday against Lyon. Asked if he would have changed the summer schedule, Sarri replied: “If I can, completely. I arrived in the middle of July, so the problem was there. I have to accept it completely, but I think, for the future, it will be better to change it.”
The Italian is also aware that he will need to change the club’s playing style. “We have to play at another speed,” he said. “The offensive phase may be a problem at this speed. If we are able to play at another speed, maybe scoring will not be a problem for us. But at this moment, at this current speed, it may be a problem.”