Can Sarri survive until the end of the season?
The atmosphere I witnessed at Chelsea’s return to their training camp on Monday morning had an eerie feeling about it and reminded me of four years ago when Jose Mourinho was manager. That was the day he got the sack! Manager Maurizio Sarri arrived early and went through yet more video analysis of the Man City 6-0 loss disaster. He then split the players into two groups, the team which lost to City went to the gym and the substitutes and other seniors played a 60 minute match against the Chelsea Academy youngsters. The result was a 3-3 draw which embarrassed both Willian and Giroud with the manager watching. Will Sarri survive until the end of the season given that his boss/owner Roman Abramovich does not take kindly to beatings for his team of 4-0 to Bournemouth and then 6-0 to rivals Manchester City. After the final whistle at the City fiasco, Sarri did not even wait to shake hands with City manager Pep Guardiola. He just walked down the tunnel and back to the dressing room trying to mask his anger. Pep just shrugged and looked bemused. I have been talking to my Chelsea insiders and it is simply a case that the Chelsea players have not bought into Sarri’s way of playing. They don’t like it, despite the success he delivered at his previous club Napoli. Now I have discovered that several senior members of the squad are talking about leaving if Sarri stays beyond this season. They are upset that he only chooses from 13 or 14 players each week and many have to wait for Cup games to get playing time. The players are also bored with his training routines, which often involve drills before a match in the evening. As I wrote in this column two week’s ago, Sarri’s masterplan is to play down the wings and cut inside, pushing on for the strikers to receive the ball and go for goal. The Chelsea players totally ignored that plan against City and Sarri was furious. Chelsea are a club which exists in constant chaos. They have never replaced John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba who bossed the dressing room. They have no current leaders but collectively stick together and sulk and slink away from responsibility. Seven players cost £250million and currently they do not even start a game. Conte wanted Virgil Van Dijk and Riyad Mahrez but the club did not back him last year. Selling midfielder Nemanda Matic was crazy. The club simply has no direction and no plan. Abramovich, despite not watching one match this season because the UK government refused him a working visa, was so upset with the Chelsea 6-0 result that he phoned the club and asked them to set up a meeting with the manager. Sarri has previously said that he never hears from the owner because Abramovich divides his time between his native Russia and Israel where he has taken up citizenship. Insiders are already saying that Sarri could have as little as four weeks if things do not turn around immediately. One man watching the situation is Chelsea legend Frank Lampard and my spies tell me that his name is in the frame if Abramovich sacks Sarri. There are four things I can exclusively tell you about the manager’s position at Manchester United. Ole Gunner Solskjaer is now firmly in the driving seat to become the next permanent man in the hot seat despite the midweek 2-0 loss to Paris St-Germain in the Champion’s League. His amazing run of eleven games without defeat is testament to a man who knows what he is doing. First, I can reveal that Solskjaer has already met the United owners for an interview. Following that interview and the win at Fulham, owner Avram Glazer went into the United dressing room to publicly support his temporary manager. That is a statement of intent in my book. He thanked all the players but especially Solskjaer. Secondly, the Norwegian is now backed by two of United’s most influential board members and club legends, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton…they see Solskjaer as the future of the club and Ferguson has given him huge support on and off the training field. Third, Solskjaer has the players playing for him and he has also handled the media brilliantly and the fans love him. Finally, Solskjaer’s inner circle tell me he would accept a two-year contract which in footballing terms means he is not too expensive to take a gamble on. If after two years or earlier, things do not work out he can remain a legend and slip quietly away with the club’s thanks and it won’t have cost too much money.
It is a tough life being a manager as Claudio Ranieri is constantly reminded but this time he is suffering at Fulham and not Leicester where he was sacked after winning the League title. After Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United, fans were calling for him to be sacked and all you could hear around the ground during the game was that old favourite chant “You don’t know what you’re doing!” Ranieri refused to give up on his 3-man defence system despite Fulham letting in 58 goals so far this season. The defence should have been sorted out in January but only Havard Nordtveit was signed from German Bundesliga team Hoffenheim. Fulham fans vented their fury when the team was announced on Saturday and one of football’s brightest youngsters, full back Ryan Sessegnon was alongside club captain Tom Cairney on the substitute’s bench. How Ranieri can leave these two out of the team is beyond me. Fulham now face three home matches against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City and Ranieri must be very worried.
When I questioned why Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia was not at training this week I was told he has a niggling injury. I also learned the long serving defender is set to leave the club at the end of this season. The 33 year-old is out of contract in the summer and his agents have been talking to Inter Milan about a possible move. United have no plans to extend his contract at the moment and have until March to make him an offer. At present Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Ashley Young are all six months away from becoming free agents when their contracts expire and my United sources tell me the club want to keep Mata and Herrera but Young and Valencia will be 34 when the 2019/20 season kicks off so they will probably leave.
Nigeria’s continental representatives, Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Enugu Rangers made the country proud during the week as they churned out heart-warming performances in their respective competitions.
While the CAF Champions League campaigners, Lobi Stars showed strength of character in far away Morocco where they forced Wydad Casablanca to a 0-0 draw, their compatriots Enugu Rangers also forced Cs Sfaxien of Tunisia to a 1-1 draw in their Confederation Cup group match.
The performances of the Nigeria Professional Football League sides have earned them commendations from football fans who urged them to keep up the good work.
Although they presently sit at the bottom of their group, the away draw at Wydad has given Lobi Stars a glimmer of hope as they can still qualify, if they manage to win their remaining two group matches.
Interestingly, their case was helped by the 0-0 draw played between Asec Mimosa and Mamelodi Sundowns in Abidjan in the other group match.
As it is victories in their remaining group matches with Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa and Asec Mimosa at home will see Lobi Stars reach the knock-out stage of the CAF Champions League for the first time.
On their part, Enugu Rangers who have gone unbeaten in eight matches now stand a good chance of reaching the knock-out stage in the Confederation Cup.
After a convincing 2-0 win at home against Salitas of Burkina Faso in their opening group match, Rangers on Wednesday held CS Sfaxien to a 1-1 draw in Tunis to sit on top of the group with four points.
Rangers defender, Isaac Loute told Trust Sports that there will be no complacency in the camp of the ‘flying antelopes’.
“We are unbeaten but we know that the road ahead is not easy. Our ambition is to win the trophy so we are not going to become complacent.
“For now, we are taking one match at a time,” said the Benin Republic international.
The performance of the two clubs if sustained would make CAF to restore Nigeria’s slots in the competitions.
It will be recalled that due to the abysmal performances of NPFL clubs in CAF club competitions, the continental body was forced to reduce the number of Nigerian teams from four to two in the current season.