Chelsea’s Problem Is Mental – Sarri

Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri has questioned the mentality of his players after a great first half and timid second half against Everton FC.

Chelsea were in cruise control in the first half at Goodison Park and did all they could but score, registering 10 attempts on goal, including an Eden Hazard effort which stuck the post.

But Everton took charge of the second half, scoring goals from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson secured a 2-0 victory that will affect Chelsea’s top-four hopes.

His words, “We played probably the best 45 minutes of the season and then suddenly at the beginning of the second half we stopped playing – I don’t know why,” Sarri said. “We were in trouble.

“The situation was clear, it’s clear the problem is not a physical problem, if it was physical you would go down gradually, not in one second. It’s probably a mental block.

Asked why they faltered in the 2nd half, he said, “I don’t know, and the players don’t know what happened in the second half. I cannot explain it.

“We played the best first half in the season and we could have scored four or five and then suddenly we stopped playing. It’s very strange and we stopped to defend and counter-attack.

“We were in control of the match and we played very well so we needed continue but we didn’t defend at the start of the second half. We changed the system, but it was the same.

“The problem was mental on the pitch, so the system and the tactics are not important. It wasn’t about motivation because we started very well. We have to play eight matches now and we have to fight for our possibilities.”