Chelsea vs Tottenham: Where did it all go wrong for Maurizio Sarri?

Sarri's rollercoaster Chelsea tenure took another downturn this weekend

Tuesday 26 February 2019 10:51 GMT

Maurizio Sarri says Kepa Arrizabalaga incident was a 'big misunderstanding'

Maurizio Sarri's rollercoaster Chelsea tenure took another downturn this weekend.

Defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final was the least of the Italian's worries as goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga's refusal to be substituted, against his manager's wishes, grabbed the headlines.

The Blues have since fined the Spaniard a week's wages but the problems for Sarri continue.

Up next is a clash with rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening as the race for a place in the top four continues apace.

So where did it all go wrong for Sarri?

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

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1/8Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

Where did it all go wrong for Maurizio Sarri?

The Chelsea manager continues to struggle in his first season at Stamford Bridge

Reuters

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

November 28, 2018: N'Golo given orders

Days after N'Golo Kante had signed a new contract and in the aftermath of the end of his first loss, which ended an 18-game unbeaten start to competitive football with Chelsea, Sarri singled out the France World Cup-winning defensive midfielder for criticism. Sarri said Kante roamed too much in the 3-1 loss to Tottenham and should not deviate from his defined right midfield role. He reiterated his wish for Jorginho to play in central midfield. Eden Hazard was later also singled out and deployed as a 'false nine' in part to absolve him of defensive responsibility.

AFP/Getty Images

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

January 19, 2019: 'This group of players are extremely difficult to motivate'

Sarri had repeatedly questioned his players' motivation after the Spurs loss, with lacklustre performances following even in victory. The 60-year-old, though, was seething after a 2-0 loss at Arsenal, switching to his native Italian for his post-match media conference "to send a message to my players and I want my message to be very clear". He said: "I have to say, I'm extremely angry, very angry indeed. This defeat was due to our mentality, more than anything else. This group of players are extremely difficult to motivate."

AFP/Getty Images

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

January 30, 2019: Post-mortem leaves questions

The players did not heed the message and a heavy defeat which some had forecast all season materialised against surprise opposition. A 4-0 loss at Bournemouth was Chelsea's worst in the league in more than 22 years and resulted in a 50-minute dressing room inquest, with Sarri excluding his staff. "In that moment I wanted to talk with them (the players) alone, without anybody," Sarri said. "I wanted to try to understand after the match. I spoke with the players immediately after the match but it is also difficult for them to say why. So I have to try again tomorrow because I need to understand why because I need to solve this problem."

AFP/Getty Images

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

February 1, 2019: Stubborn refusal to change

"I am a dreamer, I want to play my football," said Sarri, in outlining why he refused to compromise on his footballing principles - or even have a contingency plan. "Why? First of all I want to do Plan A very well, I think," he added. "I don't want to change something that at the moment doesn't work very well. First of all I want to see my football played very well, then we can go to change something. First of all I want to play my football very well. Then I can change." A 5-0 win over relegation-threatened Huddersfield followed but did not suggest all the issues had been resolved.

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Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

February 10, 2019: City capitulation

If Chelsea supporters thought the Bournemouth beating was bad, the 6-0 loss at Manchester City was even worse. The Blues' heaviest loss in 28 years left Sarri's position in jeopardy; an embarrassment like that is not easily tolerated at Chelsea, with owner Roman Abramovich having sacked managers for less. Sarri said he "didn't see my football" at the Etihad Stadium. He added: "I am worried about my team, I am worried about the performance but my job is always at risk so I am not worried about the club."

Getty Images

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

February 18, 2019: Fan frustration expressed in expletives

With Chelsea's FA Cup defence coming to an end in a 2-0 loss to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, Blues fans joined in as visiting supporters sang "you're getting sacked in the morning". There was an expletive-laden critique of 'Sarri-ball' - the 60-year-old Italian's philosophy - in an atmosphere almost unprecedented at Stamford Bridge. The nearest similarity was when Rafael Benitez was interim boss in 2012-13, but he was attacked personally due to his prior affiliation with Liverpool.

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Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

February 24, 2019: 'Mutinous' Kepa

When Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to go off with penalties looming in the Carabao Cup final with City, Sarri's furious reaction suggested all was not well. The incident was played down immediately after the match as a "misunderstanding", but it was strange that Sarri did not force the 24-year-old goalkeeper to abide by the decision. There was next to no support from senior Chelsea players and, whether it was intended to or not, it did undermine Sarri's authority. The Spaniard was subsequently fined one week's wages by the Blues and admitted he made a "big mistake".

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Check out the timeline of the manager's season in the gallery above

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Chelsea vs Tottenham: Where did it all go wrong for Maurizio Sarri?

Sarri's rollercoaster Chelsea tenure took another downturn this weekend

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Football email

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

Where did it all go wrong for Maurizio Sarri?

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

November 28, 2018: N'Golo given orders

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

January 19, 2019: 'This group of players are extremely difficult to motivate'

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

January 30, 2019: Post-mortem leaves questions

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

February 1, 2019: Stubborn refusal to change

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

February 10, 2019: City capitulation

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

February 18, 2019: Fan frustration expressed in expletives

Where did it go wrong for Sarri?

February 24, 2019: 'Mutinous' Kepa

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