MANCHESTER – Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri said he could not understand what happened after Manchester City crushed his side 6-0 on Sunday – their biggest ever defeat in the Premier League.
City scored four times inside 25 minutes and added two more goals in the second half to overtake Liverpool on goal difference at the top of the table.
The result was Chelsea’s heaviest defeat in any competition since losing 7-0 to Nottingham Forest in 1991.
“At the moment I am not able to explain,” Sarri, whose side slipped to sixth in the table, below Arsenal on goal difference after the defeat, told Sky Sports.
“During the week my feeling was good during training. Maybe the goal we conceded after three minutes it was difficult to play. It was difficult not to give them spaces. We were in trouble. I am not able to understand.
“We made a lot of mistakes against the wrong opponents. They played fantastic football and we made a lot of mistakes. We wanted to press them at the beginning of the action, but the plan was completely ruined because we conceded after three minutes.
“I think the big difference between the two teams was the intensity of pressing. They pressed really well, and we were not able to do it. We were not able to react in the right way. We were not able to stay in the match.”
The Italian said his side had a problem away from home and added it was right he should shoulder responsibility for the performance.
“At the moment we have a big problem away,” he said. “The beginning of the season we were better away than at home. But everything has changed in the last month. We need to understand.
“It is right. I am in charge of the team, so it is right (that he faces pressure). You will have to ask the club (if there will be discussions about his future).”
Sarri says he does not think motivation was a problem today. "We made a lot of mistakes against the wrong opponents."
That's all from Sarri. There will be more online and on our app later. #MCICHE
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 10, 2019
AFP