Chelsea have had an unstable season so far, with Maurizio Sarri’s men struggling through a period of very inconsistent form. Since the Blues’ fantastic start to the season, they’ve really come off the wagon – and they’re yet to get back on.
Their last two fixtures sum up their season perhaps better than any metaphor could. They lost 4-0 to Bournemouth, only to follow that up with a 5-0 win over Huddersfield. It’s that sort of inconsistency that has been common so far throughout their season.
As a result, it doesn’t appear as though Gary Neville is feeling particularly positive about Maurizio Sarri’s long-term prospects at Stamford Bridge.
Neville recently discussed Sarri on the Gary Neville Podcast (via Sky Sports), and he thinks that the manager could end up leaving the club this summer.
Neville said: “I don’t think Chelsea will change Sarri during the season but there are those warning signs that make you think it will be a surprise if it goes beyond the summer”.
He continued: “That’s not because I want him to leave, I think he’s doing a good job, but Sarri probably realises the job he is in and looks at the players who are not doing what he wants them to do – they never probably will.”
Certainly, Chelsea have a history here. They’re not a team that is ever willing to wait around, and if Sarri’s form doesn’t improve imminently, the pressure will immediately raise. The manager’s honeymoon period is evidently over, and he’s got a significant task on his hand.
It’s not all bad for the Blues, though. They’re still in the top four, and you’d think that if he’s able to keep Chelsea there, he’ll manage to keep his job. However, given the presence of Man Utd and Arsenal, that’s not going to be an easily achievable feat.
Neville, either way, doesn’t appear to be convinced of his longevity – and can you blame him? Sarri hasn’t done anything to suggest that he’s going to take a different path to any of the Blues’ recent managers, and for them, their tenures have only ended one way.
Could he buck the trend? Certainly, but he’ll need to fix up and improve – and fast. You get the feeling that by the end of February, with Chelsea set to take on teams including Man City and Man Utd, we’ll have a better idea of where Sarri stands.
Thoughts?
