Sarri But Not Sarri Thread

[Vesper 28,779]

Maurizio Sarri: Chelsea are closer to Liverpool’s level than he thought

https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/maurizio-sarri-chelsea-are-closer-to-liverpools-level-than-he-thought/

After Chelsea drew with Liverpool on Saturday, Maurizio Sarri believes his side are a lot closer to Liverpool and Manchester City’s level than he originally thought.

 

 

‘I think also that we are more close than I thought’

Speaking after the game with Liverpool, Sarri stated:

“I think they are a step forward, but I think also that we are more close than I thought one week ago.

 “[To finish] in the first two for me it’s very difficult, because City and Liverpool are a step forward to us. But I can think we can fight for the [Champions League].

“Here it’s very difficult to arrive in the first four. There are six or seven top teams, top in Europe, not only in England, so it’s not easy to get into the Champions League. We have to try of course, and we have to try to stay very close in the table to the top level teams, and we have to improve more.

“I’m disappointed because they scored in the last minutes, but at the end I’m really very happy with the performance, and also [because] the draw maybe is the right result.

 “The match was wonderful.”

snip

[Unionjack 7,531]

5 hours ago, Vesper said:

“I’m disappointed because they scored in the last minutes

This is what all of us think I am sure.

Did Sarri just say these things for some reason or does he really think it?

He is obviously not a manager that plays the blame game or to diss players publicly he thinks needs upgrading but I  will be interested to see what players HE gets linked with in 3 months.

Roll on New Years Day. Hopefully it will be a Happy Blue NewYear!

And lets hope Eden gives us a nice Xmas prezzy!

[Special Juan 27,424]

Nothing short of so refreshing is what we are seeing with Sarri, not just the football but his none ego style, no slagging managers or players and it was great to see him embracing Klopp on Wednesday and Saturday, two excellent managers who love good football.

 

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

46 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

Nothing short of so refreshing is what we are seeing with Sarri, not just the football but his none ego style, no slagging managers or players and it was great to see him embracing Klopp on Wednesday and Saturday, two excellent managers who love good football.

 

Indeed mate, also David Luiz's comments after the match are encouraging. Said Sarri wants them to be happy when they are on the pitch because football is fun and they are privileged to have one of the best jobs in this world. This is a manager that works hard through enjoyable drills and pleasant football, gone are the days when Hazard had to play left back and take care of fucking Robert Snodgrass or God knows who other bang average winger just because the manager could not go out of his comfort zone and in the modern era of football still played/plays dinosaur tactics. 

Look at this team of ours now - a midfield of Jorginho, Kovacic, Kante, Barkley, Fabregas. No tall, rigid midfielders, just ballers because this is what modern football is about. Compare this to Matic, Fellaini, Herrera, Fred. My God we were fooled into thinking football is all about having enforcers all over the pitch and every match is like WW2. Hell fucking no mate and I am glad we have a manager that not only gives us an identity now, but will surely change the 'rigid, park the bus' image Chelsea have as a club and makes sure we never go back to Mourinho type of managers. 

[Unionjack 7,531]

1 hour ago, petre.ispirescu said:

Indeed mate, also David Luiz's comments after the match are encouraging. Said Sarri wants them to be happy when they are on the pitch because football is fun and they are privileged to have one of the best jobs in this world. This is a manager that works hard through enjoyable drills and pleasant football, gone are the days when Hazard had to play left back and take care of fucking Robert Snodgrass or God knows who other bang average winger just because the manager could not go out of his comfort zone and in the modern era of football still played/plays dinosaur tactics. 

Look at this team of ours now - a midfield of Jorginho, Kovacic, Kante, Barkley, Fabregas. No tall, rigid midfielders, just ballers because this is what modern football is about. Compare this to Matic, Fellaini, Herrera, Fred. My God we were fooled into thinking football is all about having enforcers all over the pitch and every match is like WW2. Hell fucking no mate and I am glad we have a manager that not only gives us an identity now, but will surely change the 'rigid, park the bus' image Chelsea have as a club and makes sure we never go back to Mourinho type of managers. 

But I think also that English football is evolving too towards the more technical,fast game instead of the big boot up the pitch. So the players have changed to suit it. Or would that be the other way round?

We made a start in Conte year 1 where we also played some of the best football I had seen us play for years.

Ive said it before but its amazing to think that Sarri has been with us for such a short tim wheras Peps had 2 years and Klopps had 3 plus theyve had muliple transfer windows to bring in the players they need to play their styles of football.

We are by no means a finished article and we need positions upgrading if we are serious about wanting to be real contenders in the PL AND of course the CL. But how much will we have changed by this time next season let alone 2 or 3 if Roman is content with how we are going.

[Vesper 28,779]

6 minutes ago, Unionjack said:

 

We are by no means a finished article and we need positions upgrading if we are serious about wanting to be real contenders in the PL AND of course the CL. 

If we dont get a striker soon, and a RW if Pedro isnt going to start almost every league match and all hard cup ties, then we can forget about winning shit, and really may have trouble qualifying for CL next year, which deffo seals Hazard leaving.

I am down to a laser focus on CF, RW, and Hazard contract/sake situ. Those 3 are clear and present dangers to the future of the team, along with the brewing ownership nightmare.

[Unionjack 7,531]

2 hours ago, Vesper said:

If we dont get a striker soon, and a RW if Pedro isnt going to start almost every league match and all hard cup ties, then we can forget about winning shit, and really may have trouble qualifying for CL next year, which deffo seals Hazard leaving.

I am down to a laser focus on CF, RW, and Hazard contract/sake situ. Those 3 are clear and present dangers to the future of the team, along with the brewing ownership nightmare.

Wouldn't that mean giving Kovacic back?I see your reasoning but  I'd prefer to overpay if necessary for a guy up front cause right now we have 2 thats offering us no goals no matter how hard they try. So my main goals are same but gimme a striker instead.

But saying that IF the chance of a WC CF was to happen then of course I wouldn't  say no. Its all about the team not individuals no matter how much we might like them.

[Vesper 28,779]

1 hour ago, Unionjack said:

Wouldn't that mean giving Kovacic back?I see your reasoning but  I'd prefer to overpay if necessary for a guy up front cause right now we have 2 thats offering us no goals no matter how hard they try. So my main goals are same but gimme a striker instead.

But saying that IF the chance of a WC CF was to happen then of course I wouldn't  say no. Its all about the team not individuals no matter how much we might like them.

Why would any of that mean no Kovacic? I hope it is a given we try like hell to buy him on a perm basis. At Least we have him to play, and at least he wants to stay (if Real sells him)

The other issues are far worse (unless RM pulls Kova back), as we have no remotely acceptable striker, nor a WC RW, and I just have a terrible feeling Hazard wont renew. I think he looks at it as even a 3 year extension takes him to 32/33yo (and thus not in prime anymore) in the first year with a new team, if he left after the end of the extension.A full 5 year NEW deal would mean he would be 34/35 in first post Chelsea year.That's basically USA/China cash in age (or a year away from it) It basically locks him into Chelsea for his entire career peak years. I just get the feeling that bothers him.

[Unionjack 7,531]

Chelsea players are all getting on... and it's down to THIS Maurizio Sarri addition

CHELSEA players are all getting on so well for one reason, according to former Blues defender Frank Sinclair.

“I would have thought, it would have taken a lot longer for the team to settle and play the way that he wanted them to play.

“I watched a lot of the Napoli side play last season in Serie A and [Chelsea] are not far off of it and I believe with better players as well.”

"A big thing for me about being contenders over a championship season is the spirit between the players,”

“It’s all well and good having great players in your side but they have to have the chemistry and the spirit about them that makes them become a winning group of players.

“I also think a clever move was bringing Gianfranco Zola back to the club because I think it got a lot of people on his side straight away because he’s a favourite of the club.

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1025388/Chelsea-players-getting-on-down-THIS-Maurizio-Sarri-addition

 

[Blue Armour 4,278]

14 hours ago, petre.ispirescu said:

Indeed mate, also David Luiz's comments after the match are encouraging. Said Sarri wants them to be happy when they are on the pitch because football is fun and they are privileged to have one of the best jobs in this world. This is a manager that works hard through enjoyable drills and pleasant football, gone are the days when Hazard had to play left back and take care of fucking Robert Snodgrass or God knows who other bang average winger just because the manager could not go out of his comfort zone and in the modern era of football still played/plays dinosaur tactics. 

Look at this team of ours now - a midfield of Jorginho, Kovacic, Kante, Barkley, Fabregas. No tall, rigid midfielders, just ballers because this is what modern football is about. Compare this to Matic, Fellaini, Herrera, Fred. My God we were fooled into thinking football is all about having enforcers all over the pitch and every match is like WW2. Hell fucking no mate and I am glad we have a manager that not only gives us an identity now, but will surely change the 'rigid, park the bus' image Chelsea have as a club and makes sure we never go back to Mourinho type of managers. 

Haha, agree with your post in general, but a team full of enforcers can also be equally dangerous.

I'm just glad there are no quality enforcers of the likes of Essien, Vidal, Makalele or Ballack in any of the other teams. The only one that's close is Kante and he's with us.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

 

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Its amazing how he's changed our play completely in just a short period

 

[kellzfresh 7,229]

 

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Jase 43,479]

https://www.football-italia.net/129263/sarri-hazard-and-chelsea-can-grow

“The whole Sarriball thing amuses me. I don’t go on social media, but I did see the fans post these videos with the most passes. If I have to be honest, the Chelsea fans aren’t even sure what Sarriball means. They invented this term, pronounce it all in one word and carry on. It’s very funny.

“It’s a dream to be here. I walked into Stamford Bridge and hear this shout: ‘Mauriziooooooo!’ Then the chants, it makes you want to pinch yourself. They usually do that for those who have won, but what have I won? I couldn’t believe it.”

Sarri is known for being a workaholic who focuses on every tiny detail in his match preparation.

“My working day usually lasts from 9am to 7pm, then two hours of viewing time for myself. It’s like a religion. I got a house 10 minutes from here, in Effingham, so they lock me up in my hermitic seal and if they knock, I don’t answer the door. I am immersed in my world.

“I achieved this almost at the age of 60. I don’t need to thank anyone other than those who cared for me, supported me and understood me, but not those who tried to exploit me.

“I spent my time in Serie C, that’s a league that grinds you down and spits you out.”

How has Sarri adapted to the change in cuisine coming to England?

“The meat is very good here, it is becoming a pleasing habit to change from fish. They cook chicken wonderfully. The priority was always getting the language right.”

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Such a honest and humble man.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Full Sarri Interview 

Quote

“I’d say this Chelsea side is only at 60-70 per cent capacity right now, but how much we are missing and how much we need is not the same thing. It’s double that.”

“The whole Sarriball thing amuses me. I don’t go on social media, but I did see the fans post these videos with the most passes. If I have to be honest, the Chelsea fans aren’t even sure what Sarriball means. They invented this term, pronounce it all in one word and carry on. It’s very funny".

“It’s a dream to be here. I walked into Stamford Bridge and hear this shout: ‘Mauriziooooooo!’ Then the chants, it makes you want to pinch yourself. They usually do that for those who have won, but what have I won? I couldn’t believe it.”

“My working day usually lasts from 9am to 7pm, then two hours of viewing time for myself. It’s like a religion. I got a house 10 minutes from here, in Effingham, so they lock me up in my hermitic seal and if they knock, I don’t answer the door. I am immersed in my world".

“I achieved this almost at the age of 60. I don’t need to thank anyone other than those who cared for me, supported me and understood me, but not those who tried to exploit me. I spent my time in Serie C, that’s a league that grinds you down and spits you out.”

“The meat is very good here, it is becoming a pleasing habit to change from fish. They cook chicken wonderfully. The priority was always getting the language right.”

“Hazard is immense and I don’t think even he knows how much he can still improve. I said he could end up in the tight circle of the best three or four players in the world.

“The problem is he plays to enjoy himself and at times doesn’t realise the importance of moving from fun to reaping the rewards. At the end of the day, you’ve got to get the fruits of your labour.

“Hazard’s approach is a positive, but it can become a potential limitation too. He needs to lift his head up, look around and realise there’s a whole world in front of him that he can dictate with his feet for the good of the collective and not just the individual.

“He said such kind words about me, I wasn’t expecting that. His contract expires in 2020, but he’s staying here. I was tempted to use Hazard as a centre-forward and I might consider it again in future, but it’s not the right time now. We need to believe in Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata".

“David Luiz is a really sweet guy, exemplary and professional. Cesc Fabregas has immense quality, he returned from injury and I am proud to have him with me, as he’ll give us a big hand.”

“Jorginho knows what I am asking for and understands me straight away. I arrived at Napoli with him in the balance, but now he’s a treasure and playing for the Italy squad.

“It’s all about balance. Jorginho helps and guides the others, keeping them all involved.”

“I’ve been here for three months and at the start it was difficult. I arrived in mid-July, those players coming off the World Cup in August and we immediately had a tour in Australia, so there wasn’t much time. I had planned for a longer apprenticeship.

“I was helped by the Spanish players at Chelsea, those who already speak our football language. Now we’re having some fun. We needed a few more weeks at Napoli, but Serie A is different. Here I said to myself: ‘Watch out Maurizio, you dreamed for a lifetime to make this step, so now try to be yourself.’ “I saw the tactical mechanisms worked straight away, the results then pushed us on further.”

“I see Aurellio De Laurentis continues to say all sorts of things about me… Do me a favour: let’s just finish it with this whole argument. I will love Napoli and its fans for the rest of my life. I know what they think of me, how they think and when they think it. Always.

“Ours is a love that is unshakeable, eternal. The other night, I got so excited during Napoli 1-0 Liverpool. Excellent performance, to the last gasp. I declared, as a fan, that I was pleased to have tired Liverpool out a few days beforehand when they came to Stamford Bridge. The performance from Napoli was excellent.

“However, in Serie A there are no rivals for Juventus. When I used to say that, people thought I was just covering myself, yet they are already breaking away.

“This season, there are two candidates to win the Champions League: Juve and Manchester City. I always thought Pep Guardiola’s side was mature enough for the final step on the European stage, but then we’ll have to see how the Spanish clubs are doing in March. Things change quickly in the Champions League.”

“Insigne is the best Italian player right now. His turning point was quite simply believing in himself, more and more. He shook off the uncertainty and the pressure of someone who is forced to be a protagonist of his hometown club.

“If you think about it, this was just a matter of time. I don’t think it was an issue with his position: of course, if he plays closer to the goal as a striker, he’ll get more shots on target, because he has the quality.

“He can do everything. Initially, I had thought of him as a trequartista behind the strikers, then I moved him to the wing. Tactics and technique are bread and butter, I am always here to teach, but ultimately the player has to add his own ingredients, that final pass and the DNA that shakes you up and tells you to go conquer the world.

“That is what’s great about Lorenzo. Now he must keep pushing, as he identified the problem and took control, not just at Napoli either.

“After Lorenzo, I’d put Federico Bernardeschi, who is on his way to soon becoming world class. I’ll add Federico Chiesa in third, as he is a pure talent, generous, dynamic: he has the capabilities of someone born to succeed, he just needs to work on refining.”

on liverpool match

“There are moments when the grand spectacle of it all convinces you to put aside any regrets. Even if you concede at the last minute or five minutes into stoppages.

“That was an extraordinary show. Just 10 minutes earlier, I saw Klopp looking at me with the game going on. I asked: ‘Why are you smiling?’ He replied: ‘Aren’t you having fun?’

“I said: ‘So much’ and he added ‘Me too.’ He was losing at the time. Even after the equaliser, remembering that moment, we hugged like two old friends.

“I’m sure he would’ve done the same even if Liverpool hadn’t equalised. The Premier League has this joy of football.”

on higuain

“I miss Higuain a great deal. I miss him because he’ll keep scoring goals until the day he dies. He is a goal machine, a systematic and automatic jackpot.”

“Whatever response I give will be considered wrong and put words into my mouth. All I can say is that I feel Gonzalo left Napoli too soon. If he had stayed for another season, I think… we could’ve been in a condition to win.

“Higuain was a part of the fantastic mechanism we created, we understood each other so well. It was perfect synchronicity and the regrets will probably stick with us.”

on transfer business

“My thoughts on the months dedicated to transfer negotiations are well known. I hate it all: summits, meetings, confrontations, a pain in the …. You reporters fill pages and hours of air time on the problems in Italian football, those unresolved and unresolvable issues.

“It’s possible this is a limitation of mine, but it’s what I’m like. I will train whoever I am given to work with, out of respect for those who must balance the books.

“That’s the way you like it, but I can’t wait for the ball to get rolling on the turf, the joy of a training session.”

 

[Vesper 28,779]

2 hours ago, kellzfresh said:

Full Sarri Interview 

 

Superb football talk, just brilliant at every level, he is, without a doubt, a genius. We SOOOOOOOOO need to fucking back this man with players who fit his system.