‘Happy’Chelseaeye United scalp
TOTAL FOOTBALL Playing with panache under new manager Sarri, Blues look to inflict further misery on exboss Mourinho LONDON:Manchester
United manager Jose Mourinho returns to his former home on Saturday seeking to stop the rot against a high-flying Chelsea team playing with a smile on their faces under Maurizio Sarri.
United fought back from 2-0 down at home to Newcastle to win 3-2 two weeks ago to hand Mourinho a stay of execution as reports emerged that the Portuguese was set to be axed. That rousing revival kept his job for now.
United travel to Stamford Bridge already seven points adrift of Chelsea, who are level on 20 points at the top of the Premier League with City and Liverpool.
Mourinho’s season has been blighted by confrontations with key players refusal to play the brand of attacking football United fans became accustomed to during the glory years of Alex Ferguson’s 27-year tenure.
Sarri’s style could not be more different. The Italian has put the smile back on faces at Chelsea with an attractive brand of football that has also produced results.
“There are moments when the grand spectacle of it all convinces you to put aside any regrets, even if you concede at the last minute or five minutes into stoppages,” Sarri told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, reliving the challenge of facing Juergen Klopp as Liverpool snatched a 1-1 draw with a late equaliser last month.
“That was an extraordinary show. Just 10 minutes earlier, I saw Klopp looking at me with the game going on. I asked: ‘Why are you smiling?’ He replied: ‘Aren’t you having fun? I said: ‘So much’ and he added ‘me too’. He was losing at the time.”
Chelsea’s players have flourished under Sarri, none more so than the league’s top scorer Eden Hazard. “I like this type of game. It’s completely different than Conte or Mourinho before,” said the Belgian, who has eight goals already this season.
“We have more ball so for me it’s not bad.”
Sarri has challenged Hazard to score 40 goals this season, adding: “It is easy to stimulate Hazard — as long as you let him have fun.”
SARRI IMPACT
Chelsea are vying to remain unbeaten in their opening nine Premier League games for only the third time, and all of it is down to how Sarri has quickly got down to business.
SARRI-BALL WORKING ITS MAGIC
Chelsea Goals per match Goals conceded per match Clean sheets short passes per game under Sarri
under Antonio Conte last season United Chances created per match Eyebrows were raised when the Italian was appointed as Chelsea manager. But those doubts have evaporated and even the players have taken a liking to the Italian. The concept of Sarri-ball is essentially a fast-paced, possession-based style of attacking football often likened to a vertical tiki-taka. It features short and quick passes designed to move play as far up the pitch as quickly as possible.
The system is conducted by Jorginho (left), who was brought over to Chelsea from Napoli. His intimate knowledge of the philosophy has helped the Blues adapt to the tactics quite quickly. Jorginho averages 106.6 passes per game, the most in Europe by a fair way. Chelsea v Manchester United, 5:00pm; Manchester City v Burnley, 7:30pm; Huddersfield v Liverpool, 10:00pm All matches live on Star Sports 1 & HD
West Ham v Tottenham, 7:30pm, live on Star Sports Select 2 & HD
ALL EYES ON HAZARD
One thing Sarri did after taking over at Chelsea was to sit down with Eden Hazard (left) and tell him that he will have the liberty to move all over the pitch.
The impact has been instant with the Belgian enjoying his best start to a campaign at the Stamford Bridge, leading their title charge this season. While it remains to be seen whether Chelsea can keep hold of their prized asset as Real Madrid loom around, for the moment he is their best bet to have a successful season.
HAZARD THIS SEASON KEY GAME FOR MOURINHO
While the fans may have not shown their back to Jose Mourinho (right) yet, the pressure on the Portuguese manager will be huge when he faces his former team.
Mourinho hasn’t enjoyed great results against Chelsea since taking over United. He has lost four games against the Blues, winning twice – with both victories coming at
Old Trafford.
If United don’t walk away with at least a point from this game, the voices calling for Mourinho’s head will get louder.
IN NUMBERS
Premier League game Chelsea have lost of the last 16 at Stamford Bridge since October 2012. They have won 10 and drawn five.
of Chelsea's 18 league goals this season have been scored after the 75th minute. Chelsea won of their last 13 league matches Manchester United have lost in London which is as many defeats as in their previous 39 visits to the capital. Played Assists
clean sheet United have kept in the league. Only three teams have fared worse. Drawn Goals United won