I have long-term plans for Chelsea, says defiant Sarri
Italian vows to stand by his under-fire tactics This is a defining week for us, admits Rudiger
Under-fire Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said criticism of his “Sarriball” system is a “false problem” as he vowed to stand by his tactics while his job hangs by a thread.
Sarri dismissed the ferocious debate around his preferred tactical approach ahead of tonight’s Europa League tie against Malmo and Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. Instead, he said that Chelsea’s recent woes could be pinned on the players performing “without soul” in their recent 6-0 humiliation against City in the Premier League.
“The system is a false problem,” he said. “I know very well that, when we lose, I have to put a striker on the pitch. When we win, I have to put a defender on the pitch. But I want to see the football in another way.”
Sarri has had no contact with the Chelsea hierarchy this week, but is understood to be facing the sack if his team loses to Malmo or City.
Chelsea lead Malmo 2-1 going into the round-of-32 second leg and the competition, and the chance of qualifying for the Champions League, are of vital importance as a top-four place in the Premier League is under severe doubt.
The manager claimed he saw an improved performance from his players against Manchester United, despite the 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge. Defender Antonio Rudiger has earmarked the Carabao Cup final as Chelsea’s moment of “truth”.
Sarri will continue to play N’golo Kante outside his favoured holding position and indicated to the media that he does not believe the France international moves the ball quickly enough.
“It depends on how you see football,” he said. “In that position, I want a player able to move the ball very fast. This is not the best characteristic of N’golo. N’golo is very useful for us, but this one is not his best characteristic.”
Discontent among the fan base had spilt over this week with chants of “F--- Sarri-ball” during the FA Cup fifth-round defeat by United.
However, Sarri will not change his formation against Malmo, or consider restoring Kante to a midfield anchor role ahead of Jorginho.
“I can understand very well the frustration of our fans because they are used to winning,” he said. “And now we are in trouble so I can understand it very well. But there isn’t another way. We have only to have good performances and good results. Of course, in this moment, it’s very difficult to think that we are able to win three or four matches in a row. But, in football, everything can change in one day. I think that we need, first of all, a good performance, a good result. Then, with more confidence, we are able to do everything.
“I have to think that I will be the manager of Chelsea for a long time, otherwise I cannot work. I am not sure [it will work], but I have to think this. I have to work, and I want to work with a long-term target.”
Sarri recognised he had “no time” to arrest Chelsea’s recent slump. “It’s not easy because we have to play every three days,” he said. “On the pitch, we have no time.” However, he insisted he had felt more pressure while managing in Italy.
Rudiger, meanwhile, accepted that Chelsea face a defining week, with a Premier League showdown against Tottenham to follow Sunday’s final. “That will show the truth,” the Germany international said of the match against City. “That will show our way this season.”
The defender hinted the team had struggled to find a dressingroom leader to match the stature of former captain John Terry. He said it was inevitable that the public would compare today’s squad with previous years “because we had leaders before here at this club”.
“That’s also fair enough. But we were not talking about leaders when we were having an unbeaten run. It all seems as if it’s based on results.
“Sometimes it’s also hard to replace people like John Terry, who was captain here and a leader. It’s hard. You cannot cook a leader these days. But, at the end of the day, we have to try to follow in the footsteps of these players.”