Premier League midseason report card: Chelsea

What grade do Chelsea get for their performances during the first half of the 2018-19 Premier League season?

Maurizio Sarri’s first few months in charge of Chelsea have been a classic case of so far, so good. The Italian has the Blues in the top four of the Premier League and the semifinal of the Carabao Cup, thanks to some refreshing and progressive tactics.

The Good

Those same tactics represent the biggest improvement Sarri has made in west London. He finally has Chelsea playing the kind of neat and stylish game owner Roman Abramovich has always craved.

So-called “Sarriball” is a slick, possession-based brand of soccer bringing out the best in several players. Among them is Ross Barkley, the brittle and mercurial England midfielder whose technique and ingenuity have finally found a home under Sarri.

Barkley competes for playing time in a midfield underpinned by Sarri’s general on the pitch, Jorginho. The 27-year-old signed from Napoli in the summer is the chief architect of Chelsea’s stylistic transformation.

His death by 1,000 passes approach has ensured the Blues’ match-winners in the final third see more of the ball than they did under Sarri’s predecessor Antonio Conte.

It’s led to a superb campaign for the club’s attacking talisman, Eden Hazard.

The classy No. 10 sealed Chelsea’s place in the last four of the Carabao Cup by beating Bournemouth. His goal maintained a stellar run of form since Sarri took over:

Hazard isn’t the only gifted forward enjoying the new way of doing things. Fellow winger Pedro has also been among the goals, finding the net six times and chipping in with two assists.

Pedro, Hazard and Willian now enjoy greater freedom to express their flair where it counts.

The peak of the Sarri effect came when Chelsea inflicted a first defeat on Manchester City. A 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in early December showcased everything the 59-year-old wants from his players.

There was pace, guile and artistry at every level of the team.

The win over City provided the blueprint for how far Chelsea can go under Sarri. It should mean at least a top-four finish this season.

The Bad

When Chelsea have been good, like against City, they’ve been very good. When they’ve been bad, the Blues have been downright dire.

The nadir of Sarri’s tenure so far is the 3-1 defeat to Tottenham at Wembley in November. Chelsea were pushed all over the pitch by a team stronger, faster and smarter.

Spurs exploited Sarri’s tactics by swarming on Jorginho at the base of midfield. Manchester United used a similar ploy to earn a point at the Bridge in October.

The message from both games was clear: Stop Jorginho and you stop Chelsea.

Being this easy to undermine is an uncomfortable reality for the Blues. It’s raised questions about Sarri’s decision to move primary ball-winner N’Golo Kante out wide to make room for Jorginho.

The bigger issue is at center-forward, where neither Olivier Giroud nor Alvaro Morata have convinced.

Ex-Arsenal man Giroud is the better fit because of his ability to link with others, but he lacks the pace to stretch defenses. Morata can do the latter, but the Spaniard remains erratic in front of goal.

Problems with Morata and Giroud explain why Chelsea have been so up front about interest in Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson:

https://twitter.com/goal/status/1075370603383848960

Sarri needs more from the center-forward position. He also needs greater consistency from the men at the back.

Specifically, David Luiz can still be bullied the way he was by Spurs. Yet his distribution is excellent, as it is from fellow central defender Antonio Rudiger.

Even so, doubts remain about how long the pair can withstand pace and power.

Sarri has made a lot of risky calls to make sure his best XI fits his particular tactics. Not everybody will believe Chelsea are equipped for difficult away games without Kante anchoring midfield or with reckless Luiz at the heart of the back four.

What’s Next?

Sarri’s approach can seem dogmatic to some. Yet there’s also a commendable bravery about many of his decisions.

Moving Kante out of the holding role and restoring Luiz, rarely a Conte favorite, to the lineup were never going to be popular calls. Sarri has stuck to them, though, firm in his belief they are what’s best for the team.

This singularity of purpose will serve Chelsea well for the rest of the season, both in the Premier League and beyond. The Blues are favorites for the Europa League, while they will also feel confident about their chances in a two-legged Cup semi-final against Tottenham.

Securing the top-four finish Conte missed out on last season will ultimately determine the success of Sarri’s debut campaign, though. His enterprising team is a good bet to achieve it.

Grade: B+

Sarri’s start has been excellent and Chelsea should go from strength to strength as an attacking force.