For the Italian to work as manager would take time and there have always been doubts as to whether he will get itHow bad is too bad? What level of defeat forces a club to change its long-term plans? Is there even a long-term plan at Chelsea? Chelsea’s worst defeat in 28 years cannot but lead to serious questions and all precedent suggests those inquiries will end with the departure of the manager, Maurizio Sarri.There always seemed something a little uncomfortable in Chelsea’s appointment of Sarri. This, after all, is an impatient club that has thrived on chaos in recent years. Sarri is the 11th permanent or semi-permanent manager Chelsea have had in the 11 years since the end of...
Sarri is heading into Chelsea danger zone, Martial is showing up Mourinho’s poor judgment and is Mee ready for England?Maurizio Sarri is heading into the shark-infested waters that did for Luiz Felipe Scolari and André Villas-Boas, who were sacked midway through their first seasons in charge of Chelsea. They were removed by Roman Abramovich once his team’s place in the following season’s Champions League was endangered and this weekend ended with Manchester United in fourth spot. Villas-Boas lost his job on 4 March 2012 while Scolari departed on 9 February 2009. At least Sarri has now lasted longer than the Brazilian, but ‘Sarriball’ has lately looked as poor a fit for Chelsea as his laissez-faire attitude and Villas-Boas’s overly methodical...
The manager’s majestic coaching skills are the guiding hand behind the spectacle produced by the striker against ChelseaSomething strange happened 12 minutes into the first half of what was, all things considered, a pretty strange kind of game. First there was a hush around the Etihad, then a gurgling sound, followed by an oddly sensual purr in the stands as the big screens showed the first replays of Sergio Agüero’s first goal in this 6-0 shellacking of ChelseaAgüero had just put Manchester City 2-0 up and in effect killed the game. The moment stood on its own, though. Football crowds don’t often gasp. But then, they don’t often get to see goals like this. Taking the ball in a deep...
As much as footballers and managers say they’re focusing on themselves, I can guarantee after the West Ham draw the players were thinking: ‘That’s it, City go top on Wednesday’Manchester City top the table again, for the first time since they lost against Chelsea two months ago. Now we will see what kind of psychological impact Liverpool feel from seeing themselves in second after missing the chance to go seven points clear only last week. How quickly things can change in football. Related: ‘The lesson is never give up,’ says Pep Guardiola after Manchester City go top Sometimes it’s easier to chase a title than it is to lead. It can be more problematic to be the pacemakers, as Liverpool...
Taking points off Manchester City on Wednesday would be another twist in the title race but form does not suggest Everton are capable and many of their fans won’t want them toLiverpool’s latest attack of stage fright means Manchester City can regain the Premier League leadership with a win at Everton on Wednesday. Jürgen Klopp’s team would have a game in hand, but if City can prove unflappable at Goodison in a way their rival were unable to manage against Leicester and West Ham the sense of a pendulum swinging would surely add to the nervous tension surrounding Anfield.What Liverpool need most, apart from the break FA Cup weekend will provide to rest some weary legs and bring a few...