Maurizio Sarri is of the opinion that Pep Guardiola’s style of play forces Chelsea to change tactics, leading to Eden Hazard playing in a new role.
His words, At the moment the situation is different. We have another striker [Higuain instead of Morata],” Sarri told reporters at Cobham Training Centre. “We can make another decision. But I don’t know; maybe we will play with a ‘false nine’. I have to decide.
“The situation is not like the other match, so I can decide something different or have a ‘false nine’. I expect Guardiola’s team want to always be in control of the match, always in possession of the ball and they’re able to do it. So, it’s a very difficult match.
“We are used to having the ball and possession so, on Sunday, it will be very different. Maybe we have to defend lower. [In December] they were able to press us in our half. It wasn’t a choice. It was a necessity. So, I think on Sunday it will be the same.
“You know very well that the midfield of Manchester City is one of the best in the world, not only Fernandinho but also Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, David Silva. Technically, they’re the best midfield in Europe at the moment, so it will be really very difficult to be in control of the match.
“We will try to play our football, but if they are able to play their football, of course, you have to stay lower. In the first match, we were lucky to score. Then, especially the first 20, 25 minutes of the second half, they gave us spaces, so it was a little bit easier.”
“I remember that in Naples it wasn’t a big problem if there was a man on Jorginho, so I hope it will be the same here in the future.”
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