The already loudening call for Maurizio Sarri to get the sack at Chelsea has only gotten louder, with Gary Neville joining the voices of fellow football pundits in saying the Italian may depart Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.
The 60-year-old Naples native made a spectacular start to his Chelsea career as he led the Blues to an 18-game unbeaten streak in all competitions. Yet a 3-1 defeat against Spurs back in November saw Sarri’s side gradually drop their form. While they remain in contention to win trophies in three competitions, as well as leading the race for the fourth and final Champions League spot ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal in the league standings, recent performances have suggested the Blues’ lack of cutting edge in front of goal, with defeats against the Gunners and Bournemouth last month igniting criticism regarding Sarri’s preferred playing style.
Sarri Gone by Summer – Neville
The developments at Chelsea over recent weeks have been particularly watched by football pundit and former Manchester United favourite Neville, who believes the ex-Napoli boss may be shown the door by the west London club at the end of the season.
“I said a few weeks ago that I thought it was the beginning of the end after what we had seen at Chelsea, the win [over Huddersfield] doesn’t change my mind,” said the former Man United fullback.
“I don’t think Chelsea will change Sarri during the season but there are those warning signs that make you think it will be a surprise if it goes beyond the summer. That’s not because I want him to leave, I think he’s doing a good job, but Sarri probably realises the job he is in and looks at the players who are not doing what he wants them to do – they never probably will.”
“The maximum a manager has got out of those Chelsea players is one year, they’ll do what you say for a year and then say ‘right, I’ve had enough of you’.
“That’s been the nature of the club. No manager can maintain that job for a long period of time, no manager has control.”
