Sarri’s job on the line in Carabao Cup final

Chelsea play Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, what could be Maurizio Sarri’s final game in charge.

There is nowhere to hide for Maurizio Sarri now. Wembley is the scene as Chelsea and Manchester City contest the Carabao Cup this weekend. Just two weeks after a humiliating 6-0 loss at the Etihad, the Italian manager faces an opportunity to redeem himself, and possibly to save his job in the process.

Chelsea saw off Malmo in midweek to make the Europa League round of 16, setting the stage for this match. City are favorites, but they have much bigger trophies to chase this season. All eyes will be on Sarri, and in particular the tactics he chooses to implement.

The 4-3-3 is his preferred system, but his team selection has been questioned mercilessly. Not giving minutes to teenage sensation Callum Hudson-Odoi, continuing to start Marcos Alonso and even his substitutions are earning scrutiny.

This all came to a head during Chelsea’s 2-0 loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round last week. Despite dominating possession, the Blues mustered very little in attack. The defense got beat in the air for both goals, and produced little by way of a reaction. It led to fans turning on the manager and his style of play with a profanity-laced chant. That sound could get louder at Wembley.

Bad results are one thing, but Sarri’s stubbornness and lack of tactical flexibility are becoming the main talking point of his tenure. Perhaps this shouldn’t have come as so much of a surprise. Sarri’s devotion to his preferred playing style was no secret, and it seemed his appointment may have signaled a new era for the club, one focused on building a long-term vision rather than chasing success in the short-term. The way the pressure has ratcheted up after an extended spell of bad form suggests that was a false dawn.

Despite all this drama, this remains a very talented team, and they’re coming off a somewhat confidence-boosting win in Europe. A win isn’t out of the question, but they are underdogs. This game feels like it will be the most pivotal of Sarri’s managerial career. Win, and his tenure with Chelsea will surely last a while longer. Lose, and the experiment is over, Wembley his final proving ground.