Maurizio Sarri's stubborn style with N'Golo Kante position can harm Chelsea

Since taking the reins this summer, the Italian has delivered a type of football Roman Abramovich has pined to see at Stamford Bridge for more than a decade.

Sarri-ball has swiftly transformed Chelsea from Antonio Conte’s counter-attacking machine to a slick side which is more than easy on the eye.

The interchanging fluid movement of Eden Hazard, Mateo Kovacic and Pedro was blurring for Leicester City at times on Saturday afternoon.

But Sarri is so certain in his ways that he won’t be moved in THE crucial area – and it was fatal for his team in the end.

With N’Golo Kante operating further up the field and Jorginho in the ‘pivot position’, Chelsea constantly look vulnerable to the counter-attack.


There is a clear reason why Leicester won the Premier League in 2016, why Chelsea claimed it the following year and France lifted the World Cup this summer.

Kante's presence in front of the back-four provided all those teams with a security, a license to drive forward and commit men. Few get past the Frenchman.

Claudio Ranieri knew that, as did Conte and Didier Deschamps, but Sarri is insistent on the way his team plays.

And the issue would have been evident to each and every person at the Bridge as the Foxes’ faithful watched their former favourite Kante scampering back towards his own goal in vain.

Leicester were on the counter, back to their best of 2016, as James Maddison played in Jamie Vardy and the hitman drilled the ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga to grab the winner.

Kante could have stopped it. At the very least, he would have done more than Jorginho who’s a delight on the ball but is limited off it.

Jorginho was unable to stop the driving attack as the Foxes cut through Chelsea’s midfield and defence. Kante was only an observer.

Abramovich will want to see Chelsea play sexy football but also compete for titles.

And for that to happen he'll need his coach to show versatility.

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