The atmosphere I witnessed at Chelsea’s return to their training camp on Monday morning had an eerie feeling about it and reminded me of four years ago when Jose Mourinho was manager.
That was the day he got the sack!
Manager Maurizio Sarri arrived early and went through yet more video analysis of the Man City 6-0 loss disaster. He then split the players into two groups, the team which lost to City went to the gym and the substitutes and other seniors played a 60 minute match against the Chelsea Academy youngsters.
The result was a 3-3 draw which embarrassed both Willian and Giroud with the manager watching. Will Sarri survive until the end of the season given that his boss/owner Roman Abramovich does not take kindly to beatings for his team of 4-0 to Bournemouth and then 6-0 to rivals Manchester City.
After the final whistle at the City fiasco, Sarri did not even wait to shake hands with City manager Pep Guardiola. He just walked down the tunnel and back to the dressing room trying to mask his anger. Pep just shrugged and looked bemused. I have been talking to my Chelsea insiders and it is simply a case that the Chelsea players have not bought into Sarri’s way of playing. They don’t like it, despite the success he delivered at his previous club Napoli.
Now I have discovered that several senior members of the squad are talking about leaving if Sarri stays beyond this season. They are upset that he only chooses from 13 or 14 players each week and many have to wait for Cup games to get playing time.
The players are also bored with his training routines, which often involve drills before a match in the evening. As I wrote in this column two week’s ago, Sarri’s masterplan is to play down the wings and cut inside, pushing on for the strikers to receive the ball and go for goal. The Chelsea players totally ignored that plan against City and Sarri was furious.
Chelsea are a club which exists in constant chaos. They have never replaced John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba who bossed the dressing room. They have no current leaders but collectively stick together and sulk and slink away from responsibility. Seven players cost £250million and currently they do not even start a game. Conte wanted Virgil Van Dijk and Riyad Mahrez but the club did not back him last year. Selling midfielder Nemanda Matic was crazy. The club simply has no direction and no plan.
Abramovich, despite not watching one match this season because the UK government refused him a working visa, was so upset with the Chelsea 6-0 result that he phoned the club and asked them to set up a meeting with the manager. Sarri has previously said that he never hears from the owner because Abramovich divides his time between his native Russia and Israel where he has taken up citizenship.
Insiders are already saying that Sarri could have as little as four weeks if things do not turn around immediately. One man watching the situation is Chelsea legend Frank Lampard and my spies tell me that his name is in the frame if Abramovich sacks Sarri. (Inside Soccer)
