Sarri Needs Time At Chelsea – Ashley Cole

Maurizio Sarri has said he needs sometime to ensure his ‘Sarri-ball’ philosophy is understood by his players, according to Ashley Cole.

His words, “I don’t think he’s under pressure just yet. He’s come into a team and tried to put his philosophy there. I think it is down to the players as well, they’ve got to react and understand how he wants them to play.

“I watched ‘Sarri-ball’ at Napoli when I was in Italy and the football they played from the back with the goalkeeper was amazing. Now, all the players have got to get on board with that.

“I think it boils down to confidence. The Napoli players knew how he wanted them to play, they had the confidence to play it out of the back and they went with the philosophy. With Chelsea, some of the players have to get with it sooner rather than later but he’s definitely a great manager.

“In terms of the players, if they win a few games then everything is rosy again. On recent results, top four wouldn’t be enough.

“Sarri needs to get a little bit of time. I think he can bring that exciting, Italian football to England with Chelsea but they have to be on board a little bit as well.”

“As players, you don’t get involved in that [managerial changes] or think about it too much – you’re there to win, regardless of which manager it is, you’ve got to do your job first and foremost.

“When you look at it, we won in the first year with a lot of managers and then in the second year there was a little dip and consequently, the manager ended up getting the sack, which is kind of sad really.

“I don’t think players are involved in big decisions like that, it’s always down to the owner, Roman, who for me, has been one of the greatest owners of a club in Premier League history. He has always backed the managers with money when they have wanted to buy players but that comes with expectations, you have to win.

“You’re at Chelsea to win. I got that vibe when I first got to the club, Jose was there and he had done a great job two years before when he won the league and then six months to a year later, he got the sack. We took maybe one of the greatest managers ever and within two or three years of me being there, he was getting the sack.

“It’s ruthless, but as an owner, you want to win. The owner didn’t think he could get the results or play the way he wanted to play and that was it, he was gone. Chelsea always want to buy new players, they’re always willing to invest but that comes with a consequence of if you don’t win, you’re out.”