Where do Sarri and Chelsea go from here?

Following another disappointing loss to a supposed rival, Maurizio Sarri’s future at Chelsea looks very bleak.

Chelsea are the most interesting team in the Premier League. No team other than Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United have been under the microscope more. The Blues’ recent results tell the story: a 2-0 loss at Arsenal, a 4-0 loss at Bournemouth, a 6-0 loss at Manchester City and Sunday’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United. Wins against Sheffield Wednesday, Malmo, Huddersfield and Tottenham in the League Cup have done little to lift the mood.

That makes Sunday’s League Cup final all the more important. Time appears to be running out for Maurizio Sarri. After the fans turned on him during the match against United, is there anyway back for the former Napoli boss?

Who gets the blame, the players or Sarri?

It’s easy to forget that this is the same Chelsea side that began the season unbeaten until they lost to Spurs in November. Players such as Eden Hazard were kept happy, Jorginho was a fine signing and the soccer was dazzling at times. Roman Abramovich had finally found the manager to deliver him the sort of attacking play he has always craved. But when the wheels fall off, everything comes into question.

The players have looked clueless recently, lacking any sort of intensity or fight, and it’s hard not to recall their performances in 2015-16, when they simply stopped trying a season after winning the title.

Of the Premier League’s big six, Chelsea have scored the fewest goals with just 49 and are now a point off the top four. The back and forth between Eden Hazard and Sarri about the former’s rumored move to Real Madrid in the summer isn’t nearing a conclusion.

This is quite the conundrum, and Sarri hasn’t helped matters either. The Italian has shown a stubbornness with his tactics, most notably playing N’Golo Kante as a box-to-box midfielder as opposed to in a more defensive role.

That seemed an understandable step to ensure Jorginho could dictate games from the base of midfield, but as the season has progressed and more teams have started pressing Jorginho, Sarri has failed to adapt. The loss against United on Sunday was only the latest example of how Sarri’s unwillingness to make any changes is costing this team.

There are legitimate questions about the motivation of this group of players in light of their recent history, but Sarri, whether he deserves more time or not, hasn’t covered himself in glory.

Same old Chelsea?

It’s easy to see why Chelsea would want to let go of Sarri. Poor results leave a bad stench, but a win in the League Cup final on Sunday would soften the blow of some recent results. A deep run in the Europa League would also make a difference. Whether it will make enough of a difference to offset the disappointment of missing out on the top four is harder to say.

But what would be the point in sacking him? Abramovich has always wanted a manager like Sarri, who prioritizes free-flowing, attacking soccer above all else. History suggests, however, that Abramovich desires quick results as much as he does an attractive style of play.

The longer Sarri stays, the better the players will understand his tactics on the training ground, the better the soccer will be on matchdays. More players will need to be brought into club to better serve Sarri’s philosophy, as was the case with Pep Guardiola’s start at Manchester City. But with Abramovich at the helm, anything is possible, which makes the remainder of Chelsea’s season all the more fascinating.