Chelsea v Manchester City - Sarri's last game? We cannot stomach another repeat performance.
Maurizio Sarri takes his Chelsea team to Wembley this afternoon looking for his first ever major trophy in his managerial career. Pep Gua...
https://www.chelseadaft.org/2019/02/chelsea-v-manchester-city-sarris-last.html
Maurizio Sarri takes his Chelsea team to Wembley this afternoon looking for his first ever major trophy in his managerial career. Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side stand in his way with the general consensus of opinion believing that defeat will cost him his job.
Chelsea fans head to Wembley this afternoon with little hope but cling onto the fact that in football anything can happen and hopefully, Guardiola's side have "one of those days" today. Make no mistake, Chelsea need Manchester City to be well below par and deliver a poor sub-standard performance for us to win this one. So much so, Manchester City are backed as odds-on favourites with Bet UK at 10/19.
There are those Chelsea fans that will head to Wembley with optimism, with belief that we can perform well and force our opponents onto the back-foot and cause their suspect defence (in my opinion) problems if we can have enough possession in space between the impressive Fernandinho and their back-four.
In Eden Hazard and Willian - who is tipped to start alongside the Belgian supporting Gonzalo Higuain, Chelsea do have an attacking threat with potential to give Pep Guardiola's defence issues all afternoon. In order to do so, Chelsea must play at high tempo, they must move the ball quickly and look to play decisive through-balls to the willing Higuain who has already proven how effective his runs off of the ball can be.
There are many complaints and groans of discontent from the Chelsea faithful of late which is never a good sign. I personally on here have stated that we are boring to watch, we are predictable and easy to play against. We have seen too many times this season Chelsea dominate possession of the ball in the first two phases of play but reach our attacking third for it to come to a shuddering halt. As demonstrated on Monday night against Manchester United, Chelsea lacked ideas, lacked that killer pass and seemed clueless as how to play against United's defensive tactics without the ball. Here, this afternoon if we do not play quick enough, there is a real danger of this playing out the same way.
There has been and remains plenty of debate amongst Chelsea fans of the reasons for our demise in recent weeks. There are those who are pro "Sarri-ball" and demand that the club and those against it give him time to work it out. The same people champion Jorginho playing where he does calling for the majority that don't to support what he offers the team with the ball at his feet. Which I agree at times is impressive. However, and those pro-Jorginho's position need to understand, in that role there is a defensive responsibility, you must give a level of protection to your back-four and your two central defenders in particular which is does not.
Two goals conceded away to Arsenal, four to Bournemouth, six to Manchester City and now two against Manchester United WITHOUT reply. That's fourteen goals conceded in just four games - surely everyone can see where our problems lie?
Maurizio Sarri will revert to type from the seven changes made against Malmo in the Europa League in midweek. Willy Caballero is tipped to start in goal with Kepa struggling with a hamstring complaint with the back-four in front of him being the same - Azpi, Rudiger, Luiz and Alonso. Jorginho will start in his usual useless position with Kante and Ross Barkley in midfield, supporting the same front three as mentioned above - Willian, Hazard and Higuain. It's not the team I would start with but as we all know by now, he is not going to chance his ways.
The most important thing for Chelsea to start with is to stay in the game and make it through to half-time. We cannot afford a repeat performance of a couple of weeks ago. If Chelsea can start well, remain compact and frustrate our opponents in that first-half then it would be half the battle won. I believe that they are suspect at defending set-pieces and if Eden Hazard could draw fouls in and around their box, we can hopefully take advantage. There will also be space in-behind their fullbacks which we need to expose but can only do that by playing fast tempo.
If Manchester City score an early goal then it could turn into another disaster.
Selected Bets ahead of the game:
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