Napoli forward Dries Mertens has hinted at a potential reunion with Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea.
Sarri spent three seasons as Mertens’ manager at Napoli, converting the Belgian to a false nine midway through his second year.
Could Mertens reunite with Sarri? Five key things to know…
- Maurizio Sarri left Napoli for Chelsea in the summer of 2018, replacing compatriot Antonio Conte.
- The Italian has started well at the Blues, losing just two of his 23 competitive matches so far.
- Sarri’s two forwards, Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata are yet to live up to expectations this season, with Eden Hazard tried as a false nine at the weekend.
- And Mertens, who was also converted to a false nine by Sarri, has opened the door to a potential reunion at Chelsea.
- Mertens scored 67 goals in 135 games playing under Maurizio Sarri.
Mertens, 31, currently has 18 months remaining on his contract at Napoli and despite pledging his immediate future to the club, the Belgian has not rule out a move in the summer.
“I love it here,” he told The Times.
“But maybe in one year, I’m free, so maybe you never know, maybe Sarri is going to call me. We will see.”
Mertens played 135 games at Napoli under Sarri, more than he has featured under any other manager during his career.
The Italian manager has started life in the Premier League fairly well, seeing Chelsea to fourth in the table after 16 games with wins including a 2-0 victory over defending champions Manchester City.
And Mertens spoke highly of his former boss, believing he is always focused on football.
He added: “Sarri does not have an off button. I think he sleeps one hour a night and he is always thinking about football.
“Maybe because he had less time because he arrived late in the game and he is playing catch-up? I learnt a lot from him.
“The thing I loved most about him is that you feel you are playing with 12 not 11. He puts the line very high so the strikers feel the midfielders are close.
“I’m sure now Sarri is learning things about London. He knows so many facts, he’s crazy but interesting.”
Mertens’ Napoli, now managed by Carlo Ancelotti, are currently second in Serie A but were knocked out of the Champions League thanks to a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday night, relegating the Italian side to the Europa League.
Sarri and Chelsea are also competing in the Europa League and will be present in the knockout rounds after securing top spot in their group with a game to spare – winning five from five.
Chelsea’s striker problems
Against Manchester City on Saturday, Sarri started with Hazard in a false nine role, choosing the Belgian ahead of Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata – the latter not even making it into the matchday squad.
Making 37 appearances between them (Morata 20, Giroud 17) Chelsea’s two recognised strikers have scored just 11 goals so far this season with Morata scoring seven and Giroud four.
Morata’s poor performances have come down, in part, to a lack of confidence in front of goal with Sarri previously speaking on the Spaniard’s “mental fragility”.
Sarri said: “I think that at the moment he’s not playing to his full potential. It’s difficult.
“I think Alvaro has a very great physical and technical potential, so I think he can improve more.
“He’s a little bit fragile from the mental point of view. But he’s very young. I think he can improve, improve very fast.”
Morata has also been criticised by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who doesn’t see the Spaniard lasting too much longer at Chelsea.
“The reality is I do not think that Morata will ever click at Chelsea, and I am sure the club think that too,” he said.
“They have to be looking now for a new option next season.”
The post Dries Mertens drops hint over Sarri reunion at Chelsea appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2LdfcHb
No comments:
Post a Comment