After yet another setback in their pursuit of Champions League football following a recent defeat to Everton, something has got to change at Chelsea.
And if it is not Maurizio Sarri in the Stamford Bridge dugout, then that change has to take place on the pitch if the Blues are to save their dwindling campaign.
On evidence from this term and his time at Napoli, Sarri is not going to move away from his successful 4-3-3 system, which is understandable.
Considering that, change would most likely have to come in the form of personnel switches and little tactical tweaks with defence being a great place to start.
Defensive Reshuffle
At one point during the campaign, Chelsea were pretty solid at the back, boasting a record that only Liverpool could better. However, since the new year, they have been dreadful in that department with heavy defeats against Manchester City and Bournemouth epitomising that.
And at the heart of things has been David Luiz, whose tendency to get drawn to the ball has cost his side time after time.
With that in mind, Sarri should strongly consider giving Andreas Christensen, a simply more intelligent defender, some more game time at the Brazilian’s expense.
Marcos Alonso’s Goodison Park horror show and Cesar Azpilicueta’s decline in form also give Sarri reason to look at his full-back options going forward, too.
New first-choice No.8
Mateo Kovacic and Ross Barkley have taken it in turns to play the No.8 position, but neither have convinced or at least not consistently enough.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, on the other hand, has excelled whenever he has played there. The 23-year-old is so direct with his dribbling and carries much more of a goal threat, especially compared to his Croatian team-mate.
When at full fitness again, Sarri undoubtedly has to make him his first-choice No.8 for the rest of the season.
Start the CHOsen one
Dubbed as the CHOsen one by a Chelsea fanbase who have fallen in absolute love with him, Callum Hudson-Odoi is a player capable of rejuvenating this faltering Blues attack.
Hudson-Odoi, who was recently called up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad, can beat his man on either side, is a dangerous crosser and an all-round goal threat.
With neither Willian or Pedro able to string more than two good consecutive performances together, Sarri would be crazy to leave it any longer before giving the 18-year-old a regular starting berth.
