Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and his former international teammate Jermain Jenas have criticized Maurizio Sarri for his post-match comments at Emirates.
Sarri claimed that it has been difficult to motivate Chelsea after they lost 2-0 to Arsenal on Saturday night. Ferdinand claimed that a team of Chelsea’s caliber need not motivation because they know how big a game against Arsenal is.
“This is a huge cause for concern – to say that your team is lacking in motivation, especially in big games. For these games, you should wake up, bounce out of bed and fly out on to the pitch ready to go. You don’t need a team-talk, you’ve done your homework during the week. As soon as they came out they didn’t look up for it, they looked lethargic.” Ferdinand told BT Sports.
On the other hand, Jenas questioned the players’ readiness to play according to Sarri’s football style but added that only time will vindicate the former Napoli coach.
“I don’t know if those players truly believe what he (Sarri) is bringing to the table right now. I do believe we will get to see the best of Sarri at some point. But right now I think he’s struggling not only to convince some fans, but there are some players who think it can be done in a better way. That is why you get one or two, maybe, that goes: ‘what is the point of making that run if it is not going to come? Why is he playing there’.” Jenas said.
Sarri has had to deal with questions on why N’Golo Kante is playing in an advanced midfield role and the use of Eden Hazard as ‘false 9’ when Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata are available. Jorginho has taken over what used to be Kante’s roles sitting deep in midfield.