Maurizio Sarri can make Chelsea fun again

Maurizio Sarri will bring an exciting new tactical philosophy as Chelsea manager, but does he have the players he needs to succeed?

Antonio Conte is no longer Chelsea manager, replaced by former Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri. Sarri’s task is to return the Blues to title-challenging form. While he doesn’t have the pedigree of Conte, a title winner with Juventus as a player and manager, he brings an exciting attacking philosophy the likes of which Stamford Bridge hasn’t seen for several years. Will he succeed?

Despite a disappointing 2017-18 season, Sarri is inheriting a solid squad. N’Golo Kante is arguably the best defensive midfielder in the world, and will be joined by Jorginho, the heartbeat of Sarri’s Napoli side. Marcos Alonso is an excellent left-back adept at attacking and defending; he’ll continue as a feature in this Chelsea side for years to come. Cezar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, Pedro and Ross Barkley look set to stay and will be the skeleton to build upon going forward.

There are, however, some problems. David Luiz returned to the club in 2016 from PSG to fill Conte’s need of a ball playing center-back. He has one year left on his contract and has been injury prone of late, both ill omens for his future in the blue shirt. Tiemoue Bakayoko failed to impress in his first season, and while he’s still young, it’s hard to know where he’ll fit into the midfield alongside Kante and Jorginho.

Alvaro Morata was the big signing of last summer and was an instant hit, but his form crumbled as the season went on, and he didn’t seem particularly happy with life in the Premier League. There’s talent to work with there, but he’s been linked with a move away and even if he does stay is far cry stylistically from Dries Mertens, who led the line so dynamically for Sarri at Napoli.

Sarri’s biggest concern, however, might holding onto the pieces he already has. Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois are linked to Real Madrid, and Willian to Barcelona and Manchester United. Unless better options make themselves available, everything should be done to keep them at Stamford Bridge. Alternatively, Sarri could tap into Chelsea’s vast loan army and play the likes of Tomas Kalas, Marco Van Ginkel, Luca Piazon and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

At Napoli last season, Sarri mostly played a 4-3-3, with two quick wingers on either side of a mobile center forward, Mertens. However, he also had success with a more traditional number 9, Gonzalo Higuain, playing up front in 2015-16. Chelsea have the players to recreate either approach.

Next: The best player of all time on every Premier League team

Hazard, Pedro and Willian are an upgrade on Lorenzo Insigne, Mertens and Jose Callejon out wide, while Morata, Michy Batshuayi, back from his red-hot spell at Borussia Dortmund, and Olivier Giroud offer a variety of options up front. If none of them works, Hazard, who occasionally played as a false 9 under Conte, would be an interesting option. Jorginho and Kante should be automatic starters in midfield, and Cesc Fabregas can play further forward to compensate for his decreasing mobility. Drinkwater, Barkley and Bakayoko can fill in as needed.

Chelsea’s aim this season should be to return to the Champions League. Liverpool and Manchester United have strengthened, but are within reach. Tottenham haven’t strengthened (yet), and could also find themselves in a battle for the top four. Sarri will also have the Europa League to contend with. The competition has long been derided by English clubs, but has been taken more seriously since the winner was awarded a spot in the Champions League. This is by far Sarri’s biggest job as a manager. Whether or not he succeeds, expect Chelsea to be one of the most exciting teams in the league.