SARRI-BALL IS BONKERS AND INFLEXIBLE CRAIG BURLEY
TOMORROW, LIVE ON BBC1, KO 7.30PM
That’s the view of former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley, who believes that Sarri is in danger of becoming the most inflexible coach at any of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
The west Londoners were demolished 6-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad last weekend – a defeat that put the Italian’s position under even greater scrutiny.
And although he has held on to his job this week, another loss in the FA Cup to Manchester United tomorrow night could see the axe fall on a tenure that started so brightly but is now in danger of imploding.
Burley won the Cup with Chelsea in May 1997 – at the time, the club’s first major piece of silverware in 27 years. Plenty have followed since – but the odds of Sarri adding to that trophy haul are beginning to lengthen. “It has been exciting watching Chelsea this season – and that’s part of what Roman Abramovich has been chasing,” said Burley, who now works in the USA as a pundit for ESPN. “Of course, he wants the domestic success and the European success but he has got p***ed off in the past when people have talked about Chelsea’s style, particularly under Jose Mourinho. “Abramovich has hankered for a more free-flowing passing game, but the issue is that their passing game has been part of Chelsea’s problems of late. “It’s about getting the balance right. I’m not anti-sarri, in fact I quite like him, and I’ve enjoyed watching his teams play. “But I think he’s in danger of becoming the most inflexible coach out of all the top guys. That’s fine, but he’s working for an owner who, if there’s no success at the end, might – and I mean ‘might’ – only suffer it for one season.
“But basically he has to strike a balance and there are a lot of questions at the moment.”
Foremost among them is Sarri’s persistence with Jorginho, who has struggled to win over Chelsea’s supporters so far this season.
And his criticism of N’golo Kante – a man seen widely as one of the main reasons for Chelsea’s title triumph during Antonio Conte’s first season in charge in 2016/17.
A triumph that came just 12 months after Kante (left) had inspired Leicester City to Premier League glory.
Burley said: “People might say that Kante can’t pass it like Jorginho and maybe he can’t – but he can pass it well enough to win two titles and a World Cup.
“And he can do what Fernandinho does at Manchester City – and that’s cover everyone’s a***.
“That’s why Real Madrid and PSG are sniffing around. I keep hearing about Sarri-ball or people talking about ‘Sarri’s system’. But it’s just bonkers.
“In an ideal world, he would get half his players from Napoli and do what he was doing there. But he’s not in that situation any more.
“You’ve got Jurgen Klopp (left) changing formations at Liverpool this season. Pep Guardiola (left, top) has played a back-four and a backthree with Manchester City, or a diamond in midfield.
“That’s flexibility. If you want to do it ‘your way’ then good luck to you – but if Manchester United or Arsenal beat Chelsea in the race to the top four and Sarri’s just ploughing on the way he is, then he has a big problem.”
The FA Cup may offer Sarri muchneeded respite. For how long, only Abramovich (inset above) knows.