London: Chelsea’s new manager needs to address four key areas as he takes the helm at Stamford Bridge ahead of the looming Premier League season.
Convince the star men
Maurizio Sarri was unveiled on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge as Roman Abramovich’s 11th Chelsea manager, just 22 days until the transfer window shuts and 24 days before their Premier League season begins, with a trip to Huddersfield.
The priority is obvious. Chelsea possess three world-class players in Thibaut Courtois, N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard — and two of them are dropping hints about leaving.
Courtois is in the final year of his contract and an extension worth pounds 200,000 a week sits unsigned. Hazard is out of contract in 2020 and an offer of pounds 300,000 a week is similarly incomplete. The noises sound ominous. Hazard said on Saturday: “You know my preferred destination,” amid a Cristiano Ronaldo-sized hole at Real Madrid, while Courtois added: “Wherever I go, Eden must come along”.
Both are on holiday following Belgium’s run to the World Cup semi-finals but so much flows from how their situations play out. They are all but irreplaceable and convincing them to stay, or remain focused if they do run down their contracts, is critical.
Implement a new style
Sarri will work very differently to his predecessor, Antonio Conte. His regular use of the word “fun” in his first interview as manager felt telling in the context of Conte’s volcanic touchline demeanour and disciplined on-field demands.
Sarri’s recent history with Napoli also suggests a change of system to four rather than three at the back. Chelsea’s centre-backs have plenty of experience in this formation but there will be a considerable challenge at full-back for Cesar Azpilicueta, who played out of position on the left under Jose Mourinho, and Marcos Alonso or Victor Moses to adapt to.
Jorginho has been recruited to function as a midfield playmaker alongside Kante, prompting questions over how other senior central midfielders — notably Cesc Fabregas, Ross Barkley, Danny Drinkwater and Tiemoue Bakayoko — might be used.
Kalidou Koulibaly played under Sarri at Napoli and describes his more open, expressive style as “enjoyable” for both players and fans. Pep Guardiola is one of Sarri’s biggest admirers in football.
When Sarri was reminded that Napoli did not ultimately win a trophy in his three years at the club, he expressed hope that they would be remembered like the great Dutch team of Johan Cruyff in the 1970s for their style.
Finalise the squad
There are big decisions that need to be made quickly through the entire squad. Centre-back Daniele Rugani, Russia midfielder Aleksandr Golovin and Roma goalkeeper Alisson Becker — also a strong target of Liverpool — are all on the incoming radar. Yet with a first friendly match in Perth next Tuesday, before European fixtures against Inter Milan, Arsenal and then Manchester City in the Community Shield, time is limited.
Do not be surprised if Sarri waits until the final hours of the transfer window before making decisions on certain players.
Chelsea had 38 players out on loan last season, including Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham, Michy Batshuayi and Kurt Zouma. Do any of these now have a first-team future under Sarri? And what of those players who fell out of favour with Conte, notably Willian, David Luiz, Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Morata?
Sarri’s ability to make sound judgements with only limited on-field and training ground evidence will be crucial.
Manage upwards
A sense of gloomy inevitability steadily gathered for a full year before Conte’s departure and, for all the anecdotes about his supposedly difficult behaviour, Chelsea should surely also consider why this keeps happening to them. It is the 13th time that Abramovich has changed managers in little over 14 years. That in itself will surely concentrate Sarri’s mind and his ability to manage upwards as well as downwards will be critical.
The departure of technical director Michael Emenalo, Abramovich’s visa issues and his decision to shelve plans to fund a new stadium have also contributed to an impression of instability.
Sarri must create an understanding that his methods will need time and that the only way Chelsea can move on from their recent “boom and bust” patterns is to provide a manager with some long-term guarantees. Indeed, when you consider Sarri’s need to master English and how this is his first experience managing outside of Italy, a level of patience not often associated with Chelsea is surely now imperative.
