Questions are now being asked about Maurizio Sarri following Chelsea’s 4-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Wednesday.The Blues were embarrassed at the Vitality Stadium as they slipped out of the Premier League’s top four places.Sarri has taken responsibility for the result, admitting he is struggling to motivate his players.“Maybe we are not at the top of the table,” the former Napoli coach said at his press conference, per football.london.Sarri will want time to fully implement his methods but Stamford Bridge has never been a good setting for managers wanting time.Winning the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City will help Sarri, but failure to finish in the top four, which could cost them a place in next season’s Champions League, won’t reflect well.And Chelsea fans are beginning to make their feelings known.
Sarri meets disgruntled Chelsea fans
Sarri, who spoke to his players for nearly an hour in the dressing room after the defeat, was confronted by a few angry supporters who waited for him outside Bournemouth's stadium.
In footage obtained by The Sun, one fan tells the Chelsea boss that he should resign.
“That was disgusting, the worst performance ever,” the fan says.
To his immense credit, Sarri listened to what the fans had to say and apologised.
“I am really sorry for you,” he says. “You are completely right.”
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Sarri handled that very well.
Successive defeats to Arsenal and Bournemouth mean Chelsea are now fifth in the table, and facing pressure from Manchester United.
It’s quite incredible that the Blues are 14 points behind leaders Liverpool after only suffering their first defeat in the league on November 24.
But two losses in December were followed by two more in January and now the focus is on securing a top four spot.
That task will become significantly easier if Gonzalo Higuain hits the ground running.
Chelsea signed the Argentine striker on a loan deal from Juventus until the end of the season.
Sarri admitted after the Bournemouth match that Higuain isn’t in shape just yet, but his goalscoring record speaks for itself.