My previously expressed concerns overstated, today I believe (without question) that Sarri and Chelsea have had a successful campaign.
Maurizio Sarri has endured a long and stressful season at Chelsea FC. Much of the media coverage surrounding him and the team has been negative, including vexation at the lack of minutes for promising English talent (Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Hudson-odoi), scrutiny of his actions regarding Kepa Arrizabalaga in the EFL Cup, criticism of his dressing room management, and fan unrest with the club.
I am equally guilty of perpetuating this narrative, having written a piece for The Sports Column in February documenting the issues Chelsea have had (and potentially could have) after reports of a transfer ban emerged. In the article I wrote, “I fear for the club–not just this season, but for the next two or three.”
While the future of Chelsea FC remains uncertain with many issues needing to be addressed this summer, the worry I felt earlier about this season has not materialized. I believe Chelsea and Sarri have had a successful campaign.
Yes, Chelsea haven’t achieved what they set out to achieve at the beginning of the season. Sarri’s appointment was about reclaiming the Premier League title that the club had relinquished to Manchester City the previous year. But Chelsea failed to launch a serious title challenge, being virtually out of contention by December. In reality, though, so was everybody else!
This year’s mesmeric title race has been between two clubs–Manchester City and Liverpool–with the ‘loser’ (Liverpool) will likely have lost only one game all year. Unbelievable!
Courtesy: Metro
Chelsea may have been a long way off the top of the table (24 points as of the writing of this article), but they have shown they can compete. It is well established that Champions League football is crucial to the modern Premier League team. Not only is the extra financial revenue that comes from participating in the competition important to clubs, but it helps attract the top talent in the world.
So by qualifying for the Champions League (with a top-four finish), Chelsea can attract the best talent in the world, positioning themselves in the Premier League and also against the best Europe has to offer. That’s something Manchester United and Arsenal do not have, and it could potentially hinder them during the upcoming transfer window.
In the modern era of English football–and in conjunction with the rise of Champions League football–a top-four finish is viewed as a success. Tottenham are an obvious example, having secured top-four finishes several times over the last four seasons.
But Chelsea has done more than finish in the top four. In February, the club went up against the best team in England, and potentially all of Europe, in the EFL Cup. The game had many narratives going into it and even more narratives coming out of it. Yes, they may have finished a marginal second best, but it was marginal only and clearly showed that Sarri was beginning to understand his team. Besides, having the opportunity to win any silverware is a success.
Towards the end of the season–when all the focus was on the top-four race–Chelsea have quietly waltzed to the edge of the Europa League final. That feat was all the more impressive because Sarri had fielded a weaker team, full of youth or second-string players. It was impressive!
Chelsea navigated a difficult period when games were coming thick and fast, secured a top-four Premier finish, and had a real chance to win European silverware for the first time in over five years (not since 2013).
A top-four finish, one Cup final reached, and the chance to reach a European Cup final is something to crow about–even with all the emotions being expressed about Sarri’s management style. The bottom line? It is difficult to make a case against Chelsea not having had an excellent season. With a meteoric rise in the last 20 years, Chelsea have lost sight of what is a success.
Winning a league title is fantastic and obviously the ultimate goal of every season. But if you had offered Chelsea fans a top-four Champions League finish, an EFL Cup final, and a Europa League final, they would have jumped at the opportunity.
