Zola likens Sarri’s Chelsea struggle to Guardiola’s at City

LONDON: Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is still adapting to the Premier League but will not compromise on his style of play, much like Pep Guardiola did at Manchester City when he first arrived in England, the London club’s assistant coach Gianfranco Zola said.

Chelsea are currently sixth in the standings with the squad struggling to adapt to Sarri’s style of play, but Zola pointed out that Guardiola also refused to change his style at City, who have improved since his trophyless debut season.

“We’re trying to adapt to the league and make some changes. But we don’t change the way we see football and what is good for this club, because otherwise we’re nothing,” Zola said.

“He has improved a lot, Pep, because he’s got his team defending better, he’s got his team pressing better and attacking better.

“So he has adapted something but he hasn’t changed his way to see football. I think we are pretty much in a similar moment, where there are a lot of questions and doubts about what we do.”

Chelsea face a tough run of potentially season-defining fixtures in different competitions, with Sarri now the bookmakers’ favourite to become the next Premier League manager to be sacked.

The London side played Manchester United in the FA Cup late yesterday, host Malmo in the Europa League last 32 second leg on Thursday, then head to Wembley for the League Cup final against Manchester City before meeting Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League three days later.

Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane is interested becoming manager of Chelsea, providing the club can give him certain assurances.

Sarri is under mounting pressure after what has been a difficult season and Zidane is keen to talk to the club about coming in to replace him, according to The Sun.

However, the former Real Madrid boss would need the Blues to guarantee that star man Eden Hazard stays at the club.

Zidane would also need a transfer kitty in the region of £200 million (RM1 billion) to improve the squad as well as being granted a major say in recruitment alongside Marina Granovskaia.

If Sarri fails to make the top four and ends the season trophyless then it is highly likely that he will be shown the door. And Chelsea’s top brass will make Zidane their main target if that is what materialises.