For all his self-evident managerial talent, Maurizio Sarri never really seemed to fit in at Chelsea, and his ‘Sarri-ball’ philosophy, is seen as a contrasting one compared to his successor Frank Lampard.
As such, we explore what the key differences are between the current regime at Stamford Bridge and to the previous one.
The Key Differences
The way Sarri likes to play football is similar to the way that Pep Guardiola played with Barcelona, putting an emphasis on quick passing with plenty of options around the ball. This is where a player like Jorginho will have 100+ passes in a game, as it utilises a midfielder who will be the focal point of the team.
Trying to get through the lines of defence with short passing can work wonders, especially when a manager has the luxury of players who are able to execute it – against an opposition that allows it to happen. With Sarri at the Chelsea helm though, it often felt as though the game plan was all about possession without penetration, and the speed of play the league now demands simply wasn’t there.
Was Sarri Successful?
Ultimately, Sarri’s tactics were proven to be counter-productive on too many occasions by the end of 2018/19. Indeed, Chelsea’s appalling away record in the second half of last campaign is evidence of just how ugly it could be on an ‘off-day’. It was, however, justified in the Europa League, with only semi-finalists Frankfurt coming anywhere near eventual winners Chelsea’s quality in that tournament.
Given that it was just his first season in charge at Chelsea, Sarri can emerge with as many positives as negatives, though we are unlikely to see him anywhere near a Premier League dugout again.
Lampard Tactics yet to be Fully Understood
With the demands at Chelsea as constant as ever, Lampard will be expected to forge a title-challenging squad once again. Despite Leicester’s brilliance, current sporting index football betting prices show that Chelsea are deemed likeliest to complete the podium behind Manchester City and Liverpool.
Always a winner as a player though, and never one to hide under ‘mitigating circumstances’ like a transfer embargo, Lampard has used the situation to play Chelsea’s brightest youngsters every week. As such, it appears as though the transfer ban could retrospectively be seen as a blessing in disguise.
Whether Lampard keeps the faith in youngsters such as Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount after the current transfer ban is lifted remains to be seen, but if Lampard does have any uncharacteristic desire to replace them with £60m+ mercenaries from abroad, he has kept it well-hidden to date.
Are Chelsea in a Better Place now?
Whether Chelsea are better off with or without Sarri remains to be seen. It does appear, however, that Chelsea fans are happier at least. This is not just because they are being managed by a Chelsea legend, and the brand of football is arguably more attractive, even though Lampard and Sarri’s win rates are quite similar at present.
Lampard: Better than Sarri?
In contrast to Sarri, who faded after seeing Chelsea win their first five games of 2018/19, Lampard has overseen improvement after an indifferent start to his managerial career at Stamford Bridge. This suggests that he is more open to change than Sarri, and the early signs are certainly positive.
As a pundit prior to his start to life on the touchline, Lampard always appeared to have a managerial mind. In his brief appearances as a pundit for Chelsea games, he was always eloquent, and appeared to have a deep knowledge and understanding of proceedings from a different perspective.
That said, he has defied the odds somewhat, with the likes of Gary Neville and Alan Shearer notable for being similarly astute as a pundit, only to crash and burn as a manager, and duly return to the media world.
Sarri meanwhile, did it the hard way, having never played professional football – and that gives him credit in his own right. Yet, with attractive football and the ability to nurture young talent, Lampard could well become a legend at Chelsea for his managerial ability, and not just that glorious playing career.
