Cahill stunned by Sarri’s snub for Malmo trip
Staff shocked by coach’s treatment of defender Hudson-odoi can still do better, says Zola
As Chelsea’s players file into the first-team canteen at the club’s Cobham training ground, one of the first images to confront them is that of Gary Cahill holding the FA Cup high above his head.
Captaining Chelsea to Cup glory was one of the proudest moments of Cahill’s trophy-laden career, and yet the following nine months have turned into a nightmare ahead of the rerun of last season’s final against Manchester United on Monday night.
Cahill hit rock bottom this week, when he was left out of Maurizio Sarri’s travelling squad for the Europa League trip to Malmo without any sort of explanation or warning.
Having seen his team-mates humiliated in a 6-0 thrashing by Manchester City, Cahill would have been hopeful of at least getting on the substitutes’ bench in Sweden, if not making his first appearance since November. But the 33-yearold is said to have been stunned to find his name was not on the travelling list, having not been pulled aside or warned that he was going to be left out by Sarri or his backroom staff.
As is the case with a number of fringe players, Sarri has barely spoken poken to Cahill. Long-serving staff have ave been surprised by the treatment of a player who has been one ne of the club’s best ambassadors and nd has won every domestic and European uropean honour.
With less than six months on his is contract, it is becoming a sad ad end to what has been an incredible redible career for Cahill at Chelsea since his £7 million on arrival in 2012.
Cahill has reiterated to o the club he will continue ontinue to give his best est in the final months of his deal, and nd Sarri has not attempted ttempted to talk to o him about whether he intends ends to use him or what role he will play, lay, if any.
Having seen the meltdowns under Andre Villas-boas and Jose Mourinho and witnessed essed the sackings of, among mong others, Roberto
Di Matteo and Antonio Conte, Cahill would be the perfect erfect man for Sarri to speak to about the culture at Chelsea as he fights to keep his job.
Yet Sarri has not spoken to Cahill about the club’s situation or asked for his input during team meetings or around the training ground. Instead, as one former team-mate put it to The Daily Telegraph, he has been made to feel like a “ghost”.
Mourinho brought Didier Drogba back to Chelsea for the 2014-15 season and leant heavily on the striker’s experience, even though the Ivorian was not a regular starter.
Similarly, Conte convinced Chelsea to keep John Terry for another year when the Italian arrived in 2016. Terry started only six Premier League games that season.
Mourinho and Conte dropped Cahill at different times, but neither froze him out and both ended up restoring him to the team. Gary Cahill’s Chelsea appearances 2017-18 Cahill’s Chelsea appearances 2018-19
Conte brought him back in time for last season’s Cup final and the former Aston Villa youngster helped Chelsea keep a clean sheet in their 1-0 success against United at Wembley. Given his Malmo omission, Cahill will not be confident of playing against United on Monday, even though the picture of him in the canteen should serve as a reminder to his team-mates of how the FA Cup could help rescue their season.
Another player who has been annoyed by his lack of opportunities is teenager Callum Hudson-odoi, who was given six minutes as a substitute against Malmo. Gianfranco Zola, the assistant manager, defended Sarri’s handling of Hudson-odoi by saying: “As soon as there is an opportunity, he plays. The manager is giving him plenty of reasons to feel involved and wanted.
“You need to understand he’s surrounded by top players. You have to work hard to be better than them and that’s what we want. He can still do better than he’s doing.” Chelsea, meanwhile, have been charged by Uefa after a fan ran on to the pitch and hugged Eden Hazard following the 2-1 victory over Malmo. Uefa has opened proceedings against Chelsea for field invasion by supporters and the throwing of objects.