Maurizio Sarri is enduring a torrid time at Chelsea at the moment.In the last month, the Blues’ hefty defeats to Bournemouth and Man City, on top of their FA Cup elimination has overshadowed their Huddersfield drubbing and Europa League progression.And the fingers are all pointing Sarri’s way. The 60-year-old is renowned for making the same substitutions and getting it wrong tactically as the Blues sit sixth in the Premier League table.In fact, during the Blues’ FA Cup curtain-closer against Man United, chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” and “F*** Sarri-ball” rang round Stamford Bridge from the Chelsea faithful. Attentions now turn to the Carabao Cup final where a defeat to Man City could be the last nail in Sarri’s coffin.And former City striker Robbie Fowler has unleashed a savage rant directed at the Chelsea boss and his meaningless Sarri-ball technique, saying via the Express: "What the hell is it? As far as I'm concerned, it's just a bloody word that has stuck, without any real meaning (I'd use another word, but it'd only be censored!)"Seriously, what is it? A manager's system and tactics. Like no other manager has ever had any tactics? With Chelsea facing City today in a cup final, do you think Pep Guardiola (below) doesn't have a system? "Do you think he's not defined a tactical plan over his years as a top-class manager?"In fact, Guardiola's system - let's call it Guardio-ball - seems suspiciously like Sarri's, in terms of keeping possession and moving the ball quickly when a space appears. Except he's been doing it longer, at a much higher level."So Sarri has based his system on Guardiola. Who based his on Johan Cruyff. Who took it from Rinus Michels. Who adapted various systems going all the way back to Hungary in the 1950s. "So Sarri-ball is just 'total football' for the modern high-tempo game. Which is what Guardiola's system is. And Jurgen Klopp's."My point is not to criticise Sarri, but to say it's just a label."It's a bit like the 'Spice Boys' tag they aimed at Liverpool in the '90s. It was just a nonsense phrase to define an agenda, and it stuck. "There's a bit of an agenda against Sarri and Chelsea right now, so Sarri-ball is used in a derogatory way. But equally it was defined as this new, revolutionary, mythical approach to football when he was at Napoli. Even though they won nothing."Either way, it's nonsense. And instead of obsessing over it, I'd say looking at the Carabao Cup Final, Chelsea have more fundamental issues."Chelsea fans, do you want Sarri to stay? Have your say in the comments below.
Robbie Fowler has branded Sarri-ball as 'nonsense' in rant before Carabao Cup final - YouTube |
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