Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri spoke about a number of issues at a media conference ahead of the game against Malmo. Here’s some of what the Italian had to say.
“We have some problems at the moment. We have Zappacosta with fever, Pedro with a very strong stomachache and then we have a problem with Kepa with his hamstring.”
“I hope so. I am not sure at the moment, but I hope so.”
“It’s not very easy because we have no time (in between games) but we are trying to solve our problems.
“We are trying to talk with the players, trying to avoid mistakes by (watching) videos. We have to play every three days, so on the (training) pitch we have no time.”
“The system is a false problem. I know very well that when we lose (are losing) I have to put a striker on the pitch and when we win (are winning) I have to put a defender on the pitch. But I want to see football in another way.”
“It depends on how you see football. In that position I want a player able to move the ball very fast.
“This is not the best characteristic of N’Golo. N’Golo is very useful for us but this one is not his best characteristics.”
“But in another system.”
“I have to think that we are able to improve and able to improve immediately because the result is not all in a match.
“In the last match (against Manchester United) we played better, especially in the first half. We have to solve a problem, because we stayed in the other half for 75 minutes out of 90 and we were not able to score.
“They played only 15 or 16 balls into our box and they scored two goals. So we have to solve this problem – probably a problem of aggression and determination in both boxes.”
“Not this week.”
“Maybe, but at the moment we are making mistakes with a lot of players. Everybody sooner or later was involved in a mistake.
“So I think we need to change more the mentality than the players.”
“It’s very easy; we need to win three or four matches in a row. It’s the only solution.
“I can understand very well the frustration of our fans because they are used to winning and now we are in trouble.
“But there isn’t another way. We only have to have good performances and good results.”
“I think the problem is the performance and the result against City. So for that match they are right, because we played very badly – without soul.
“So for that match I think they are right. I don’t agree for the last match, because we played a good match especially in the first half.”
“Of course in this moment it is very difficult to imagine that we are able to win three or four matches in a row.
“But in football everything can change in one day. I think first of all we need a good performance and good result and then with more confidence we are able to do everything.”
“I have to think I will be the manager of Chelsea for a long time otherwise I cannot work.
“I am not sure, but I have to think this, because I want to work and I want to work with a long-term target.”
“I don’t know. I think so. He is the president.”
“Not at all. I had a lot of problems in the past, especially in league one and league two (in Italy). It’s very difficult to be a coach in Italy in league one and league two.”
This post was last modified on 21/02/2019