Sarri on Blues star’s future, Christensen’s nerves and why he doesn’t fear players will turn against him
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri spoke about a number of issues at a media conference ahead of the game against Tottenham. Here’s what the Italian had to say.
On the reaction of Chelsea players to his recent public criticism
“We need to react on the pitch. All the rest is nothing.
“We have discussed with the players how to try to improve the approach, the motivation and the determination.
“We are trying to change something in training, the pre-match – everything. I think we all have to react on the pitch.”
On whether he fears a backlash from them after his comments
“No. Why? I don’t understand why, because we need to discuss our problems.
“The first step if I want to improve is to ask about the mistakes, Otherwise it is impossible to improve. It’s a normal discussion for improving.”
On what he meant by saying in an interview that Chelsea had lost ‘a point of reference’
“Maybe the group lost someone important for driving the other players. But I don’t know. It’s only my opinion.”
On whether the current side has leaders
“We have some players with the characteristics to be a leader; Azpilicueta, David Luiz. I think they can help all the other players to get the right mentality.”
On whether Eden Hazard is a leader
“In this moment he is more an individual player than a leader.
“He is very important for us because he is a great player. He always can win the match – in two minutes and sometimes one minute.
“But at the moment he is not a leader. He is a great player – one of the best in the world.
“Eden is a wonderful player but he is an individual player.”
On Hazard saying that he tends to frustrate his managers
“I prefer him when he speaks with his feet.
“I think he said coaches told him that he needs to do more. I think he has to do more, because the potential is higher than the performances.
“He has to respect first of all himself. He has to do more.”
On whether Hazard is wasted playing as a striker
“He is an instinctive player. For him it is very difficult to play in only one position.
“He likes very much to go to the ball and for him it’s very difficult to play as a striker and also very difficult to play as a winger.
“But I think we have to organise the other 10 players in the defensive phase, because he needs to play everywhere on the pitch.”
On whether there is any update on Hazard’s future
“No. I know very well that he is discussing (a contract) with the club but I don’t know anything else.
“I think he has not decided yet if he wants to stay here or if he wants a new experience in another club.
“I don’t know exactly the situation but I think Eden at the moment doesn’t know the final choice.”
On what Gonzalo Higuain will offer Chelsea
“He is a very strong striker, especially in my first season at Napoli. He did very well – he scored 36 goals in 35 matches in Serie A. In the season he scored 39 goals.
“So he did very well. For sure he is one of the best strikers in my career.
“He played four seasons for Real Madrid, so I think he has the right experience to play here.
“We hope he will score goals for us but he is also good in terms of playing with other players.”
On Higuain struggling on loan at AC Milan from Juventus
“I know he had some difficulties recently but we hope we can get him back to his best form.
“I wouldn’t call it a failure. He had some problems and he’s found himself in a team that is not at the same level as Juventus.”
On Chelsea backing his judgement by bringing in Higuain
“I think that the club agreed with me when I told them my opinion about the team.
“The January window is very difficult, especially for a striker. It’s very difficult in January to find one of the most important strikers in the world.
“So I think the club is working very well because it’s not easy to get a new striker – a very important striker – in the January market.”
On whether he or Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino needs to win more (neither have won a trophy)
“Pochettino started three or four years ago. For me it’s different, but we want to win tomorrow of course.
“We know very well that it will be difficult because they are a very good team but we have to try and I think we can do it.”
On Andreas Christensen leaving the bench against Arsenal to go to the toilet
“In the matchday Christensen always has a stomachache. I don’t know the reason but I think he is very nervous. He needed to go to the toilet.”
