MX23RW : Wednesday, December 25 18:34:24| >> :60:2680:2680:
[monks data]
Attendance: 54,452
Manchester City logo
Premier League | Gameweek 26
Feb 10, 2019 at 4pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

6-0

Sterling (4', 80'), Aguero (13', 19', 56' pen.), Gundogan (25')
FT(HT: 4-0)

Maurizio Sarri hasn't spoken to Roman Abramovich since Manchester City mauling

Maurizio Sarri hasn't spoken to Roman Abramovich since Manchester City mauling
© Reuters
The 6-0 loss at City was Chelsea's biggest defeat in 28 years.

Maurizio Sarri says last Sunday's humiliating loss at Manchester City did not prompt direct contact from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

The Blues' 4-0 loss at Bournemouth last month was Chelsea's worst since September 1996, until City inflicted further embarrassment on Sarri's side, who suffered their biggest defeat in 28 years.

Following the Etihad Stadium setback, Sarri said in an interview with an Italian broadcaster that he "never" speaks to Abramovich, an owner not renowned for his patience.

Roman Abramovich
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is not renowned for his patience (Jed Leicester/PA)

Speaking ahead of Thursday's Europa League last-32 first leg with Malmo in Sweden, Sarri insisted his comments had been mistranslated when if he had spoken to Abramovich.

"No, not this week – not in the last three weeks," Sarri said.

"It depends on the president, I think.

"I didn't say never. Not very often, but not never. The interview was in Italian and in Italian I am better than you.

"I'd like to speak with somebody in the club, not necessarily the owner. I usually speak with Marina (Granovskaia, the director) and for me it's enough."

Eden Hazard
Chelsea were beaten 6-0 by Manchester City in their last game (Nick Potts/PA)

There has been plenty of discussion with his players.

A 50-minute dressing room inquest followed the loss at Bournemouth on January 30, with an hour-long conversation held on Monday at Chelsea's Cobham training ground.

Sarri has been critical of his players' motivation, especially after the loss at Arsenal.

He insisted motivation was not the issue at City, but the problem was psychological.

He added: "In my opinion, the last game was not a problem of motivation.

"We were not able to react to the first difficulty during the match because, in the first four or five minutes, we started well.

"Then, after the first goal, we were not able to react. So the problem is different.

"But it's always a mind problem, a mental problem, so we need to solve them."

Chelsea face a crucial period for their season – and, potentially, Sarri's future following his arrival as Antonio Conte's successor last July.

The Blues face Malmo either side of Monday's FA Cup fifth-round clash with Manchester United.

The Carabao Cup final with Manchester City follows on February 24 before a Premier League clash with Tottenham on February 27.

"We need short-term targets, and then a dream in the long-term," the 60-year-old former Napoli boss said.

"Tomorrow is the most important. Then, on Monday, the FA Cup will be the most important.

"It's not easy to play tomorrow after a 6-0, but we have to play and we have to play well.

"We want to win and react immediately."

Among the targets in the near future, after beating United and Malmo, is surprising City at Wembley.

Sarri added: "On Monday, the target will be to get into the quarter-finals. Then to win the League Cup. It's very strange to say it after a 6-0, but we want to win."

Left-back Marcos Alonso and midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek did not travel to Sweden.

Loftus-Cheek has suffered a recurrence of his persistent back problem, but should be fit to be in contention to face United.

Sarri said Alonso has been rested and has "no physical problem".

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Matt McGeehan, Press Association Sport, Malmo');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '231d06ea-4140-4b42-bb99-0b0ec5a2ff6f');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Maurizio Sarri hasn\u2019t spoken to Roman Abramovich since Manchester City mauling'});

ID:350263: cacheID:350263:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9511:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea's Eden Hazard celebrates after scoring against Huddersfield on February 2, 2019
Read Next:
Zidane 'could help Chelsea keep Hazard'
>
Read more about Maurizio Sarri Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!