LONDON • Maurizio Sarri will consider drafting a psychologist onto his coaching staff after suggesting that his Chelsea players are suffering from a mental block during matches.
The Blues coach had seen his team take the foot off the gas late in the recent win at Brighton and succumb to Wolves in similar circumstances, and last Saturday's 1-0 Premier League home loss to Leicester was more of the same.
Defender Antonio Rudiger branded his team's third defeat in six league games "a disaster" and down to "a lack of mentality".
Urging his teammates to make amends ahead of their league trip to Watford tomorrow, he said: "We don't talk about the title any more. If we can't win these games, we can't compete. We only talk now about top four. Stupid."
Sarri also felt Chelsea's underlying problems could not be pinned on fitness issues, saying: "There is another reason - not the players' physical condition.
"I had a sports psychologist 15 years ago in Italy, but it was really very difficult because the clubs were not ready then. But we can talk about it, why not?
The Italian is expected to shuffle the pack - striker Alvaro Morata remains an injury doubt - at Vicarage Road and he confirmed that midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek would make only his second league start of the season against either the Hornets or at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Hinting that there could be departures when the January transfer window opens, he said: "At the moment, we have too many. We have 28 players and it's impossible to use all of them. 25 is the right number.
"You already know my opinion, because I've told you in the past. We have a lot of offensive midfielders and we have only (N'Golo) Kante as a defensive midfielder so it's not easy now for the midfield to have the right balance."
But, for now, Sarri will have to put all thoughts of transfers to the side and focus on an improving Watford side, now in seventh place and with genuine designs on a Europa League spot.
The last time Javi Gracia's men played European football was in the 1983-84 season, but captain Troy Deeney feels this could be their year as they are "not a bad outfit". He told The Mirror: "I let everybody else do the ambitions. We know what we have got in the dressing room.
"But we've got to keep doing what we're doing, be a bit arrogant in terms of knowing what we have got, but humble enough to know you have to work hard to win in this league."
Teammate Craig Cathcart agreed, insisting the mood around the club was "going really well".
He said: "Since I've come to the club, it's been an uphill scale. We've managed to stabilise ourselves in the Premier League.
"We've added top-quality players since we've been here and it's just a pleasure to play for the club."
THE GUARDIAN
WATFORD V CHELSEA
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, Thursday, 3.30am
Real Madrid They say you should never go back. However, Mourinho has shown in the past that such an adage is one he has no time for, demonstrated by his return to Chelsea for a second stint after departing Real Madrid in May 2013.
Sacked Mourinho will be next Real Madrid - mirror.co.uk
Late strikes from Godin and Griezmann keep Atletico in title
Watfords Gray strikes to sink Everton, pile pressure on Silva Soccer Football - Premier League - Watford v Everton - Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain - February 9, 2019 Evertons Kurt Zouma clashes with Watfords Nathaniel Chalobah REUTERS/David Klein (Reuters) - WATFORD 1 EVERTON 0 Substitute Andre
Watford's Gray strikes to sink Everton, pile pressure on Silva
Jürgen Klopp's pre-match prediction proved to be spot on - all good things do come in threes.And after the match he warned again: Liverpool's sixth UEFA Champions trophy is only the beginning under his watch. "It's like this is still only the start," he said. "This club is about winning.
'This is only the start', says Jürgen Klopp after Liverpool's
VALENCIA • Valencia coach Marcelino has started the mind games by saying Arsenal are "the favourites" in their Europa League semi-final next month. The Spanish team, owned by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim, eased into the Europe's second-tier club competition for the first time in five years - a 2-0 home win over fellow LaLiga side
Arsenal favourites for Europa League - Marcelino
United Spurs Juve And Inter Ready To Heat Up Icc Singapore. Singapore Spurs Tottenhamhotspur. Manchester United Supporters Club Singapore The Official.
Spurs, Man United, Juventus and Inter heading to Singapore
Football 'Emotional breakdown' as Japan stun imploding Iran at Asian Cup — Japan cashed in on a defensive mix-up and a controversial penalty as they stunned favourites Iran 3-0 in the Asian
'Emotional breakdown' as Japan stun imploding Iran at Asian Cup
Five things we learnt from the Premier League this weekend
Eden Hazard "deserves" a move to Real Madrid, says Emmanuel Petit, but his departure is going to leave "boring" Chelsea struggling to "cope without him". The Belgium international forward is
Eden Hazard closer to Real Madrid move after 'decision' taken
Mauricio Pochettino went in search of bovine inspiration as he arrived in Italy and wondered aloud whether Tottenham might be better off for last year's agonising exit at the hands of Juventus.
Tottenham vs Liverpool: Mauricio Pochettino must take
Napoli draw puts Juventus coronation on hold. By AFP: Monday, April 8th 2019 at 08:02 GMT +3 | Football The race for Champions League football next season remains tight with just Atalanta
Napoli draw puts Juventus coronation on hold - Khaleej Times
Wolves beat Bournemouth in their best top-flight run for 38 years 2 BOURNEMOUTH 0 . Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth - Molineux Stadium
Wolves beat Bournemouth in their best top-flight run for 38
Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks has batted away suggestions the damaging 3-1 defeat to Wolves was another example of failing to perform under pressure. Spurs capitulated in the final 18 minutes
Harry Winks shrugs off 'Spursy' slight following shock defeat
FA Cup London, Jan. 5, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed his fifth successive victory since being named interim manager as his much-changed side beat second-tier strugglers Reading 2-0 at home in the FA Cup. Saturday's victory was in the third round of the
FA Cup Roundup: Manchester United, Chelsea through to next
0 comments:
Post a Comment