Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley thinks Maurizio Sarri’s decision to bring on Davide Zappacosta for Cesar Azpilicueta against Manchester United is “the worst substitution” he has seen for a long time.
Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley thinks Maurizio Sarri’s decision to bring on Davide Zappacosta for Cesar Azpilicueta against Manchester United is “the worst substitution” he has seen for a long time.
First-half goals from Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba made it 11 wins from 13 matches under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the Red Devils, while Chelsea continued a miserable run of form under Sarri.
The loss to United featured chanting against Sarri, whose position is under scrutiny following a series of embarrassing results.
There is no shame in losing to United, but the supporters voiced frustrations over Sarri’s stubborn refusal to compromise on his possession-based style and 4-3-3 formation.
And after witnessing Sarri’s refusal to make an attacking change, Burley thinks it almost adds up to a sacking offence.
“He’s on the brink,” Burley told ESPN FC.
“The things that are embarrassing, the 4-3-3 constantly – they’re playing Man City in the League Cup at the weekend and he’ll play 4-3-3 again, he’ll play Jorginho and Kante out of position and probably Kovacic or Barkley and then he’ll sub them.
“It’s embarrassing. Willian for Pedro? Like for like. Then it had to happen, Barkley on for Kovacic.
“But something that’s almost a sacking offence in itself bearing in mind the scenario is bringing on Zappacosta for Azpilicueta.
“I don’t care if Azpilicueta’s leg is hanging off and he had to go off, you’ve got Hudson-Odoi and Giroud on the bench and you’re 2-0 down.
“That’s the worst substitution I’ve seen in professional football for many a year.
“There’s no other way to put it, at the moment it looks like he’s out of his depth.
“I know he managed in Italy, he had certain players, he played a certain way, got a great amount of points – didn’t win anything.
“It’s not going in the right direction. People that say Sarri is not going to change, well he’s going to be sacked.
“With any manager or any team, every manager says, ‘It’s not what I want to do because I want to do things a certain way but to buy myself a little bit of time at this club I need to find a way to get the pressure off, get through to the summer and give myself an opportunity to get rid of half a dozen and bring half a dozen in.’
“If you keep plugging on the same way, you’re only going to get fired and make yourself look completely out of your depth.”