Sarri sticks to his guns over Kante’s role for Chelsea

Maurizio Sarri, the Chelsea manager, has reiterated that he will not back down in the debate over where best to deploy N’Golo Kante, claiming that his style of football cannot work with the Frenchman at the base of midfield.

Sarri has been criticised for moving Kante to a more advanced position in order to allow summer signing Jorginho to operate as a deep-lying playmaker. Jorginho’s lack of mobility was painfully exposed by Tottenham last month in a 3-1 defeat that also exposed Kante’s limitations going forward.

In last week’s 2-0 win against Manchester City, however, Jorginho was better protected by his fellow midfielders, while Kante popped up with the crucial opening goal.

Ahead of today’s trip to Brighton, Sarri dismissed the idea that the City win vindicated his conviction in playing Kante in advance of Jorginho. In the manager’s eyes there is not even an argument – having a ball-playing midfielder in front of the defence is a nonnegotiable part of his quick-passing “Sarri-ball” philosophy.

“We have a squad for this kind of football,” he said. “If you buy Jorginho and have [Cesc] Fabregas, then I think you have to play 4-3-3. If you play 4-3-3 in my style of football, then the central midfielder is a very technical player. Jorginho is very fast in the mind. He is able to play one touch or two touch. Fabregas also is technically really very good.

“I think that Kante in my style of football has to play [further forward]. I can understand that somebody might think something different but if you think to my football, you have to say that I am right.”

As well as providing a timely confidence boost, the City victory meant Chelsea reclaimed fourth spot. “Maybe it is the most important in this season at this moment,” said Sarri of the Brighton game. “We need to confirm our motivation and determination.”