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Sarri uses Napoli formula to ignite Chelsea title bid
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A MIDSEASON tactical switch sparked Chelsea’s surge to the English Premier League title two years ago under Antonio Conte.
Could the same happen under his successor this season?
For the first time in his debut season at Chelsea, Maurizio Sarri deployed a lineup without a genuine striker for the match against Manchester City on Saturday. The result? A 2-0 win over the previously unbeaten leader that brought Chelsea back into contention for the title.
Sarri has previous experience here.
At Napoli, he used diminutive winger Dries Mertens as a makeshift center forward, flanked by two small guys in Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon in a fluid, mobile front three. Mertens responded with 46 goals in two seasons, Napoli was one of the most thrilling teams to watch in Europe, and Sarri’s side almost ended Juventus’ domination of Serie A.
Against City, Sarri dropped Alvaro Morata from the squad, left fellow striker Olivier Giroud on the bench and started with Eden Hazard as the so-called “false nine” with Willian and Pedro Rodriguez on either side. Hazard struggled at first but grew into the role and finished the game with two assists.
“We wanted to try with Eden because, for the first time, there was the possibility to play in counterattacks,” Sarri said. “Hazard, Pedro and Willian are really very suitable for this kind of playing, so I think it’s a normal choice. I think that it’s really a very good option.”
Whether Sarri opts to use this approach against teams which, unlike City, sit back and defend remains to be seen. It seems ideal for away games — a trip to Brighton and Hove Albion is next for Chelsea — and matches against big rivals at home.
Two years ago, it was Conte’s switch to a three-man backline that was the catalyst for a 13-game winning run that blew away its rivals and saw the team cruise to the title.
Chelsea is eight points behind first-place Liverpool ahead of a kind schedule of games over the busy festive period in England.
It was a tough weekend for strikers in general in the EPL.
City looked increasingly rudderless at Stamford Bridge without the injured Sergio Aguero and the dropped Gabriel Jesus as Pep Guardiola’s side fell to its first loss of the season. Tottenham Hotspur went with winger Son Heung-min over the rested Harry Kane or his backup, Fernando Llorente, for its 2-0 win at Leicester City. Wolverhampton Wanderers deployed a front three of attacking midfielders in their 2-1 victory at Newcastle United.
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