How Chelsea can revive their season?

In his latest piece for the Evening Standard, Simon Johnson writes on how Chelsea will have to take a look at their transfer strategy, with a view to changing it for the betterment of the club. He writes: Things have been getting rather repetitive for the wrong reasons at Chelsea and it is time the club reconsiders how it wants to be run. Just like one of the passing moves the current team attempts, the awkward dynamic between the coach and board has become rather predictable over the years and is always in danger of finishing in disappointing fashion.

Maurizio Sarri is yet another Chelsea coach facing an early battle to save his job in the Roman Abramovich era. The Italian has made mistakes, with the Blues having lost five of their last 12 league games going into Saturday’s clash with bottom club Huddersfield. But Sarri also has things in common with his sacked predecessors, suggesting it is not all his fault. Many have arrived with great enthusiasm and willingness to adapt to the structure, only for frustration soon to set in.

With Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia having so much sway over player recruitment, sales and contract negotiations, the balance of power looks disproportionate. It has grown even worse since technical director Michael Emenalo quit his role in November 2017. No-one has been hired to replace him. Just taking the last three permanent Chelsea managers alone, including Sarri, the problems have all begun over transfers. Coaches are consulted, but don’t have a powerful voice.

The seeds of Jose Mourinho’s second sacking, in 2015, were sown during what the Portuguese considered to be a disappointing summer window where prime targets didn’t arrive. It could also be argued that Antonio Conte was full of discontent about the club’s business from the outset in 2016 and the Italian’s mood darkened into almost outright rebellion in the second and final season in 2017-18.

Sarri hasn’t been as vocal as the two men that came before him, but has increasingly pointed the finger in his press conferences. He may have been given Gonzalo Higuain last week, yet the former Napoli coach wanted the striker six months ago and the request fell on deaf ears. Sarri was hired to recreate the style of play his Napoli outfit seduced Serie A and the rest of Europe with, but with too few players he trusts. Keylieutenant Jorginho followed him fron Napoli but the majority of the squad remained the same and were more accustomed to counter-attacking football.

Having maintained a respectful front in the summer, Sarri’s countenance changed this month. The 60-year-old made it clear he didn’t know about the £57.6million deal for Christian Pulisic, which saw the attacking midfielder loaned back to Borussia Dortmund for the rest of the season.

As negotiations with Juventus dragged on for Higuain, who was on a season-long loan at AC Milan, into the second half of January, Sarri began playing the blame game. When asked about the delay, he replied: “I want to be clear, because I cannot help you. I spoke with Marina two weeks ago, so Marina knows my opinion on how to improve the team.”

Similarly, with Cesc Fabregas opting to leave for Monaco, Sarri has continually repeated that he wanted a replacement and it was up to the powers that be to provide it.

The former Napoli coach was keen on Nicolo Barella and Leandro Paredes, but received neither and the window shut on Thursday with no back-up for Jorginho in the squad. Sarri has sometimes made problems for himself, too. As both Thibaut Courtois and Fabregas looked to secure moves elsewhere, he gave them his blessing to stay away from training – which put pressure on Granovskaia to do the deals.

Chelsea are currently trying to persuade teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi to agree a new contract, but Sarri rarely picks him. Granovskaia operates largely with the club’s future in mind, while the coach understandably has his own vision. Given those two competing agendas, is it any wonder that the a disconnect is then reflected on the pitch? Chelsea are the most successful club in English football following Abramovich’s arrival in 2003 and remain involved in four competitions. However, they are in serious danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League next term for the third time in the space of four years.