Chelsea have swapped one Italian coach for another this summer and while both are renowned tacticians, their methods and set-ups are very different.
The Stamford Bridge outfit could use some fresh ideas though and a renewed spirit within the club after Antonio Conte’s visible dissatisfaction brought on a slow deterioration of the team last season.
There’s already plenty of excitement about what Maurizio Sarri could bring to the table, particularly with the brand of football he produces.
His favoured 4-3-3 system is precisely engineered and requires careful execution to be successful. His idealism can be perceived as inflexibility and while his determination to play a certain way may prove challenging, Chelsea appear well-equipped to meet his demands.
The Blues aren’t used to possession football or the high press but they have the personnel to make it work, particularly given the arrival of Jorginho. However, there are areas in which to improve as well.
MIDFIELD DYNAMIC
Sarri used a three-man central midfield at Napoli which was crucial to facilitating his possession-based style of play. Jorginho, of course, was at the heart of it and will be expected to be equally influential at Chelsea.
He excelled as a regista, dictating the team’s build-up play and setting the tempo. The midfield maestro made 96.9 passes per game in Serie A last season with his team-mate Kalidou Koulibaly coming closest with 85.2. Second among midfielders was Miralem Pjanic, well behind with 66.7 passes per game.
Jorginho is already beginning to run the show at Chelsea as well. On his unofficial debut against Perth Glory, the Italian made 98 passes over the course of his 45-minute outing.
Cesc Fabregas may well be a Jorginho’s back-up but the Spaniard’s link-up play in the final third, his forward runs and eye for goal puts him in line for a more advanced position on the left of the three, a job carried out expertly by Marek Hamsik at Napoli. The Slovakian provided the drive from midfield, bursting into space in behind the striker.
Fabregas lacks the same pace and dribbling ability though which is why the likes of Ross Barkley or Ruben Loftus-Cheek could also stake their claims. Chelsea are however being linked with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as well and have reportedly already had a bid rejected by Lazio.
Meanwhile, no-one is more suited to play Allan’s role in this set-up – not even Alan himself – than N’Golo Kante as the shuttling midfielder. Sarri’s high-press will no doubt be something the Frenchman enjoys, allowing him to make attempts to win possession quicker and further up the pitch.
Tiemoue Bakayoko has been disappointing since his arrival last summer but he does offer good cover in that position.
Chelsea’s compatibility – 9/10
In control: Jorginho.
ATTACK DOWN THE LEFT
Lorenzo Insigne played on the left of a front three for Napoli. He has matured under Sarri and become a more efficient attacker, producing his most prolific season’s under the 59-year-old.
Like Eden Hazard, he cuts in frequently from the flank and uses his dribbling and passing to create openings through the middle. The Italian registered more key passes (103) than any other Serie A player last season.
Should Hazard remain in West London – he is being linked with a move to Real Madrid – he would thrive in such a system. His lack of goals has been one of the main reasons why he’s been excluded from the upper echelon of football stars alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah and Neymar.
Sarri could get the most out of him like he did with Insigne and Dries Mertens.
Meanwhile, the left-back is expected to bomb forward on the overlap and provide the width in attack. Marcos Alonso would be taking over from Faouzi Ghoulam in this regard. The Spaniard has flourished in his wingback role under Conte but his move to left-back should only slightly affect his freedom to join the attack.
Sarri encourages his full-backs to get forward and with Hazard tucking in, Alonso will be expected to occupy the left flank in attack on a regular basis while either Jorginho or the left centre-back shuttles wide to cover the space behind him in the transition.
Chelsea compatibility – 9/10
Sarri can get the best out of Eden Hazard.
CENTRE FORWARD
Alvaro Morata is a confidence player and has looked extremely short of just that ever since his move from Real Madrid. Against Perth as well, his was one of the more disappointing performances in Sarri’s first game.
It’s not so much pace and mobility that is required of the striker in this system as it is clever movement and knowing when to come short.
Morata scored the most headed goals in the Premier League last season but Sarri prefers to keep the ball on the deck. The fact that Napoli won just 10.8 aerial duels per game last season (the lowest in Serie A) speaks volumes. That also raises the question of Olivier Giroud’s effectiveness under the new manager.
Tammy Abraham had a reasonably good outing against Perth and was impressive in spells at Swansea City last season. A step up to leading the line for the Blues this term though seems an unlikely leap.
Gonzalo Higuain is heavily linked with a move following Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival at Juventus. The Argentine enjoyed the most prolific years of his career under Sarri and would fit in well at Chelsea who have missed a steady stream of goals from their centre forward since Diego Costa’s departure.
An alternative could be using one of Hazard, Willian or Pedro up front much like Sarri did with Mertens after Higuain’s move to Turin.
Chelsea compatibility – 5/10
Incoming? Gonzalo Higuain was prolific at Napoli under Sarri.
CENTRE-BACKS
Napoli boasted the third best defensive record in Italy’s top flight last season having kept 19 clean sheets and conceded 29 times. Sarri’s system, while attack-minded, makes several provisions at the back. They are organised and defend in numbers against the long ball forward.
It helps that he utilises a high-press, meaning his side are likely to win the ball further up the pitch, limiting the interventions required from their back four. However, this means the defence must maintain a high-line and have the pace to recover. Meanwhile, passing out from the back is a key feature as well.
The keeper must be comfortable on the ball as do the two centre-backs as the trio will need to work well together. Meanwhile, the two full-backs either drop back or push up to make themselves available for a pass. Jorginho will often drop into the space between the two centre-backs to receive possession as well.
All these requirements of the centre-backs mean David Luiz could enjoy a resurgence under Sarri. Andreas Christensen is composed at the back but his pace or ability to carry the ball forward aren’t his best qualities.
There’s real potential with the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Kurt Zouma but both must prove their consistency while Sarri is reportedly interested in recruiting either Daniele Rugani or Leonardo Bonucci.
Chelsea compatibility – 7/10
David Luiz could enjoy a resurgence under Sarri.
VERDICT
Chelsea have the resources to make ‘Sarri Ball’ work but a couple of key signings would really give them an edge and put them in the running for the Premier League title. Exciting times ahead at Stamford Bridge but much will depend on how long players take to adapt to the new system.
With several World Cup stars joining pre-season late, preparations haven’t been ideal for Sarri but the absence of Champions League football should benefit them as long as the manager is comfortable with fielding a weaker side in the Europa League.
