Sarri left scratching his head as Foxes flourish
CHELSEA manager Maurizio Sarri blamed ‘mental confusion’ as his side lost at home to Leicester for the first time in 18 years.
The Italian tasted defeat for the first time at Stamford Bridge as Jamie Vardy got the only goal of the game in 51 minutes to relieve some pressure on Foxes manager Claude Puel.
The loss is Chelsea’s third in their last six matches and Sarri was left perplexed by his side’s performance.
He said: ‘We played very well for 55 minutes. We played very good football.
‘After the goal, the reaction was for me a strange reaction, not in the right direction, not as a team, but as 11 different players.
‘There was time to score, without reacting as a team shocked, as a team in mental confusion.’
Chelsea dominated possession in the first half, with Eden Hazard hitting the bar, but struggled to assert themselves after Vardy’s sixth goal of the season.
Marcos Alonso hit a post in stoppage time, but in truth Leicester were worthy winners.
The three points are a welcome boost for Puel, who had seen his side win just two of their previous 12 league matches.
‘I have nothing to justify,’ said the Frenchman.
‘I am the manager of my team and try always to do my best to get the right balance to protect some players, get the best out of other players, and put a team on the pitch with the ability to win the game.’