SARRI SALUTES GOLDEN N’GOLO
Kante’s rare strike kick-starts new era
IT WASN’T exactly a goal fit to the win the World Cup but N’golo Kante wasn’t too bothered after grabbing his first goal in 11 months.
The scuffed 33rd-minute effort also helped calm the nerves of his manager Maurizio Sarri who until then must have wondered what he had let himself in for as Huddersfield displayed the spirit which helped them survive for another season in the Premier League.
In fact the great escape for David Wagner’s side was completed with a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in May – an achievement which sparked celebrations in the capital for the players until 5am the next morning.
And until Kante struck, Wagner’s Terriers had reduced Sarri’s side to pedigree chumps with the potential for another night on the booze looming
A self-confessed chainsmoker said to get through 80 fags in one day, Sarri
The result says it was easy, but we were troubled by a very physical team
(left) kept shoving gum into his mouth, his jaw working overtime in cement mixer mode.
Thankfully for the Italian, there was no finishing power to go with the home side’s endeavour and organisation which allowed Chelsea to snap out of their lethargy with a first attempt on goal.
“I am very happy because for us the first part of the season isn’t easy to gain points,” said Sarri.
“The first half was hard. You look at the result and think it’s an easy game but in the first half we were in trouble against a very physical team.”
The handbrake and tension was released through Kante’s rare strike and £71million Kepa Arrizabalaga was able to start Premier League life as the world’s most expensive keeper with a clean sheet.
Pedro broke and his ball sent Willian bursting down the left, the Brazilian then finding Kante unmarked inside the box.
His shot thudded into the ground before looping over Ben Hamer for the French midfielder’s first goal since September 9. Both he and Gallic comrade Olivier Giroud returned from their triumph in Russia to find mini World Cups perched on their dressing room lockers.
He won’t win any awards for his goal but it set Chelsea on the path to victory and a much improved performance in the second half. It will take time for the much respected ‘Sarri-ball’ to arrive at Stamford Bridge.
“I don’t want to do another Napoli, I want to do a good Chelsea,” said Sarri. “I have to respect the characteristics of the players. I have to adapt to the characteristics of the championship. Now I am starting.” By the interval Chelsea had a two-goal cushion, courtesy of £57m signing Jorginho, who kept his nerve from the penalty spot after Chris Schindler tripped Marcos Alonso. A third goal really flattered Chelsea, Eden Hazard enjoying a 15-minute cameo off the bench and setting up Pedro for a clinical finish.
It could have been different if a fierce header from Steve Mounie had not crashed back off the inside of a post shortly after Chelsea’s opener.
Wagner said: “The result was disappointing, not the performance. I have seen passion, desire, the spirit we usually have in our game. I felt the energy in the stadium. We were unlucky.”