Chelsea are a club in the ascendancy this season after the arrival of Maurizio Sarri from the Italian Serie A last summer, and it’s all down to the new manager’s immense focus on the job.
Since Sarri was announced Chelsea manager, the philosophy of the game at Stamford Bridge has been a lot different. The Blues play with the aim of dominating the opposition and wearing them down with a great number of passes that will most definitely create an opening at some point, even against resilient defenses.
Sarri’s Chelsea now sit joint top of the Premier League with Manchester City after the first nine games of the season and are yet to suffer a loss.
His players, including influential stars like David Luiz and Eden Hazard, have spoken publicly about how Sarri’s approach makes them play with freedom and gets the team playing with a positive mentality.
But it goes beyond that as revealed by the Italian when he spoke to Corriere Dello Sport. The former Napoli gaffer says he spends 10 hours in his office before a mandatory match viewing for another two hours, daily.
“My working day usually lasts from 9am to 7pm, then two hours of viewing time for myself. It’s like a religion. I got a house… in Effingham, so they lock me up in my hermitic seal and if they knock, I don’t answer the door. I am immersed in my world.
I achieved this almost at the age of 60. I don’t need to thank anyone other than those who cared for me, supported me and understood me, but not those who tried to exploit me. I spent my time in Serie C, that’s a league that grinds you down and spits you out.”
Maurizio Sarri, Evening Standard
