Chelsea’s ‘very worried’ manager Maurizio Sarri admitted he was at a loss to explain his side’s unexpected collapse at Wolves on Wednesday night but hoped it would prove a kick up the backside before Saturday’s visit of Manchester City to Stamford Bridge.
Sarri’s side, featuring five changes from the weekend win against Fulham, were in cruise control at Molineux and leading 1-0 until two goals in four minutes from the home side around the hour mark changed everything.
It was previously unbeaten Chelsea’s second consecutive away defeat having been trounced by Spurs at Wembley and Sarri said;
‘We were in full control of the match but after their first goal, it was an accident, we suddenly looked another team, playing without the right distances, without our football.
‘I really am very worried, not about the result but the fact we didn’t react to the first goal of our opponents.
‘We had four or five opportunities to score more goals at 1-0 but missed them. Then we lost everything. I don’t think it depended on the changes I made. It depended on our mentality.’
Sarri now has to rebuild his team to face City, who he regards as the best team in the world.
‘They are in another category to us. Our fight is in the top four,’ added the Italian. ‘This is a very difficult result for us in terms of the top four.
‘I have to understand why this team was suddenly another team.
‘After this match we may have lost confidence, but maybe it is better because some times my players show me they have too much confidence.’
These are worrying times for Chelsea fans as the Blues have only one win in their last four Premier League games. It will be interesting to see how they do during the holiday break, as Sarri has never had to manage a team that plays six games in 17 days as Chelsea will do between Dec 16 and January 2.
