Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri produced a scathing criticism of his players after losing 2-0 to Arsenal on Saturday.
The Blues only had one shot on target as Unai Emery’s men brushed past their London rivals at the Emirates Stadium, with goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny.
Why did Sarri lash out at his players? Five key things to know…
- Chelsea avoided defeat in their first 18 games under Sarri but have only won four of their last eight in all competitions.
- After defeat to Arsenal they are now just three points clear of the Gunners in fifth and sixth-placed Manchester United.
- The Blues produced an uninspired performance in north London, registering just one shot on target.
- Real Madrid transfer target Eden Hazard has been playing as a false 9 in recent weeks but has looked isolated and unhappy in the role.
- After the match Sarri refused to mince his words when he stated it is “extremely difficult to motivate” his Chelsea players.
Defeat has raised further doubts about Chelsea’s top-four aspirations with both Manchester United and the Gunners now just three points adrift of Sarri’s side, and the Italian certainly made his anger clear after the match.
“This is not a team that is going to be well known for its battling qualities but we need to become a team that is capable of adapting, possibly suffering for 10 or 15 minutes, then playing our own football,” he said, as quoted by BBC Sport.
“You can find yourself in difficulties from time to time, but we need to react to those difficulties a lot better than we did today.”
The Chelsea starting XI included seven players who lifted the Premier League title under Antonio Conte in 2017, but Sarri questioned the mentality of his current crop.
Speaking in his native Italian for the press conference, he added: “I have to say, I’m extremely angry. Very angry indeed.
“This defeat was due to our mentality, more than anything else. This is something I can’t accept.
“This group of players are extremely difficult to motivate.”
Sarri hints “about a new player coming in”
One of the main issues Chelsea have faced this season, in terms of personnel, has been the lack of a proficient striker, with both Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata falling to impress the Italian.
The Spaniard has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge and is reportedly in advanced talks with Atletico Madrid, according to Sky Sports.
This has prompted Sarri to explore the market, and Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain looks set to cut short his loan deal with AC Milan and sign with Chelsea this winter window.
The Italian coach believes a new signing could inject fresh impetus and change the club’s mentality ahead of the run-in.
“You have to influence them. It could be about a new player coming in or one of the old heads taking control,” he said.
“A player at this level can’t be afraid to face up to their responsibilities. The best thing that can happen is that the players and I talk very openly about what happens.
“I am the person responsible for the players and it is important for them to have the attitude.
“If they can’t then maybe they shouldn’t be playing at this level.”
The post Sarri: This Chelsea team will never be known for “battling” appeared first on Squawka News.
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