Simon Phillips discusses the changes that have occurred at the club.
Chelsea are making changes, a new manager has arrived, and with that, a new style of football. The Chelsea board announced Maurizio Sarri as the new head coach over the weekend and confirmed what we all knew; there will be a new formation, and a new style of attacking, free-flowing football at Stamford Bridge.
Sarri likes his teams to care and caress the ball, he uses a high press system to hunt the ball back and needs energetic and quick players who are comfortable playing in tight spaces and making short and sharp passes. He is also likely to go with a 4-3-3 formation. Bottom line is he needs his players to be technicians as well as having pace and stamina.
This will excite most of the Chelsea fans who are eager to see some attractive football back at the bridge week in week out, but there will be a few of the current crop of players waiting and wondering about their futures, and whether Sarri sees them fit for purpose.
Chelsea have already signed Jorginho, who will be the main man in the middle, pulling strings and orchestrating play from deep. Aleksandr Golovin is also widely reported to join him in a more advanced role alongside N’Golo Kante; there are many players who could still see the exit door at Stamford Bridge.
Gary Cahill has never been a strong ball player when pressed, so I believe his days at the club are numbered. Pedro has the pace, but perhaps not the direction to be an asset to Sarri now, and I can’t see the likes of Danny Drinkwater, Victor Moses, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Cesc Fabregas and Marcos Alonso being regulars in a Sarri team.
Fabregas and Alonso are both good on the ball but lack the pace to press high and quick. Drinkwater will likely be sold, while there are rumours that Bakayoko could go out on loan. Davide Zappacosta is also likely to be sold this summer.
Alisson Becker from Roma looks set to replace Thibaut Courtois between the sticks, which will please Sarri with the Brazilian being better with his feet, this will suit the system that needs a keeper to sweep and play out from the back as well as being a goalkeeper.
Going to a back four will likely see Moses either having to adapt there or making a case for Sarri to start him on the right wing. He’s proved me wrong before, but I really can’t see him being a starter for Sarri and we may well need to invest in a right full back.
I feel that Cesar Azpilicueta and Emerson will be our best options to play a Sarri style as full backs. Then Andreas Christensen, Danielle Rugani (if he arrives), David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger battling out for the centre back roles.
The midfield looks very strong, especially if Golovin does arrive. I think the main Sarri preferred players to fit his system will be Jorginho, Kante, Golovin, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ross Barkley. The others just don’t have the pace or quality to be a regular there in my opinion.
Then the attackers. I’ve not mentioned Willian yet, that’s because although it seems he could well be off this summer, I have heard on a couple of occasions that Sarri likes the Brazilian international. For me, and most others, he is too inconsistent and has put in too many average performances over the years. But his pace and direct play could well fit Sarri’s system. Having said that, I think he wants to leave and will leave.
Eden Hazard I believe will stay. He will be up top with Sarri’s trusted Gonzalo Higuain (if he joins), and we will then need to bring in a right-sided attacker. Leon Bailey being the obvious choice, a long-term target for the blues that has, however, gone a little quiet on the rumour mill recently.
A player that I would love to sign, although it seems he is set for Manchester United. But I’d love to see Ivan Perisic hold down that right-wing role for Chelsea. He has a strong left foot and uses both feet. I have longed for a left-footed right winger at Chelsea ever since Arjen Robben used to destroy teams cutting in and shooting down that side as a blue a short time ago.
But obviously, Bailey would be the wiser signing being much younger. Calum Hudson-Odoi I believe will be out to impress Sarri and he possesses all the attributes to play in a Sarri style. I’d back him up to Hazard on the left wing this season; he will get plenty of game time with all the matches we are due to play.
There may also be a very outside chance for Mason Mount to be included in the squad and have his opportunity to impress Sarri pre-season. The Englishman is technically gifted and has the attributes to play in a Sarri team, and if we lose a few midfielders as expected, he may well get a squad role.
Alvaro Morata appears to want to leave the club, and for me, the jury remains out here. I wouldn’t trust him to be our leading forward this term though, and I think Michy Batshuayi suits a Sarri style better due to being more of a box striker. There’s also still every chance of Anthony Martial arriving, with his club keen on Willian and both could be interested in striking a swap deal. He’d be a great asset to have as he can play anywhere across the front three.
It’s indeed set to be a busy few weeks, with many players futures yet to be sorted and more players set to join.
What are your thoughts? Do you agree? Let us know!
