LONDON • Maurizio Sarri has accused his side of switching off mentally as Chelsea provided Everton's first top-six scalp in 26 games, a run dating back to January 2017.
Speaking after their 2-0 Premier League loss at Goodison Park on Sunday, the Italian also expressed his fears that a top-four place may be beyond his team if he cannot rectify their "mental block".
He said: "At the moment this is our limit. In my opinion, the first 45 minutes were the best we have played all season, then in the second half, we stopped playing.
"We forgot how to defend, forgot how to counter-attack and that is a problem for us, because even if you don't score, you have to stay in the match."
Chelsea, who have now failed to score in eight of 30 league games, could have been three or four goals up at half-time, and Sarri was perplexed by the collective drop in standards that saw Everton take control of the game after the break.
"We were good up to the last minute of the first half and bad from the first minute of the second," the Blues manager said.
"I'm worried about our mentality, the situation is clear. We were in control of the game, all we had to do was continue, and we could not do that.
Premier League talking points
1 MADDISON STARS FROM THE WING
Brendan Rodgers has not yet been at Leicester for three weeks, but suffice to say, he was not surprised when James Maddison opened the scoring at Burnley with an inch-perfect free kick.
With the manager hailing him as a "top-level player" before describing his ability at set pieces as "not by accident", the midfielder's efforts were all the more admirable as illness kept him up on Friday night. The 22-year-old also showed his adaptability at Turf Moor, excelling at finding space when cutting infield from his new role on the left.
2 CHICHARITO THE GAME CHANGER
The joys of Javier Hernandez have been well documented over the years - he can score goals inside the penalty box and little else.
Some managers have become frustrated with his limitations, meaning he struggled to be a regular at Manchester United and now West Ham.
But the Mexico striker, more commonly known as Chicharito, showed his worth as the focal point of the attack, with his brace against Huddersfield changing the dynamic of the game for the hosts.
3 NEWCASTLE POUNCE IN STOPPAGE TIME
Rafael Benitez has moulded his Newcastle side into one of the most committed in the league and their never-say-die attitude was reinforced at Bournemouth when they scored a goal in added time in both halves.
Salomon Rondon's free-kick goal was the result of a counter-attack from a corner when many other teams would have been happy just to clear the ball at that stage.
Matt Ritchie then smashed in their second to equalise moments before the final whistle, a testament to the battling qualities that should keep the Magpies up.Â
THE GUARDIAN
"It's very difficult for players to explain to me the change. Very difficult for me to explain to you the change.
"If you are asking me about the top four, I would say it depends on whether you are speaking about the first half or the second.
"It will be hard to reach the top four now, but I would not say impossible.
"If we can play like we did in the first half for eight matches, we will give ourselves a chance."
His opposite number Marco Silva was, however, delighted his players had "showed our real selves" in the second half.
The Portuguese also accepted Everton found the initial stages tough going, but played down his role in his team later producing a performance of far greater intensity.
Richarlison opened the scoring in the 49th minute before Gylfi Sigurdsson tucked home the rebound in the 72nd minute after his penalty kick was saved.
The Toffees manager said: "What I said at the interval was simple. I said, in the second half, we just have to do everything different."
Asked about the statistic that Everton's last victory over a "Big Six" opponent came under Ronald Koeman against Manchester City, Silva claimed to be unaware.
He added: "I didn't know it had been so long, but all I want to say is that it cannot happen again. This is too big a club for that to happen."
Separately, Chelsea have lodged an official complaint with Uefa after forward Callum Hudson-Odoi was allegedly subjected to racist abuse late on during their Europa League last-16 victory at Dynamo Kiev last week.
He was apparently on the receiving end of monkey chants close to the final whistle and European football's governing body will be expected to launch a formal probe.
"We wholeheartedly condemn such abhorrent behaviour," a Chelsea spokesman said.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
Sergio Aguero is still striving for his best form after suffering a broken rib in a car crash at the end of September, according to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. Aguero netted seven times in
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola just as delighted with
sportstoft.com/soccer/manchester-city-boss-pep-guardiola-just-as-delighted-with-defence-as-attack-after-burnley-rout/
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola just as delighted with defence as attack after Burnley rout 10/22/2018 Soccer Pep Guardiola, not a manager prone to boastful pronouncements, was quick to point out that his Manchester City side is currently producing more shots on goal than any team in any of the major European league at present after their
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola just as delighted with
Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over ref rant. By . AFP. They get four guys who don´t understand football to watch a slow motion replay in front of the TV," Neymar wrote in
Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over ref
Premier League talking points: Liverpool go top as Manchester United show need for improvement. A last-minute own goal gave Liverpool a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur to keep them top of the
Premier League talking points ahead of weekend's games - YouTube
"Di Francesco will remain the coach who took Roma to the Champions League semi-finals after who knows how many years and he deserves credit for that. I know this isn't our best season and the job of a coach will always be tied to results." Former Roma midfielder Di Francsco helped the team to their last Serie A title as a player in 2001.
Ranieri Lined-up As Roma Sack Di Francesco After Champions
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has been hit with an Football Association charge for improper conduct following his side's loss at Burnley last weekend. Pochettino confronted referee Mike Dean after the game which developed into lengthy and heated exchange.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino hit with improper conduct
Manchester City celebrated their domestic treble with an open-top bus parade on Monday, drawing an estimated 100,000 fans to the streets of the city centre. Pep Guardiola's City side became the
Juventus Win Eighth Consecutive Serie A Title. celebrates with teammates after Fiorentina scored an own goal following his shot during the Italian Serie A football match Juventus vs Fiorentina
Juventus crowned Serie A champions as Cristiano Ronaldo makes
Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt with a double injury blow to Hugo Lloris and Dele Alli ahead of their crunch encounter against Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime. France captain Lloris is expected to be unavailable for several weeks according to the north London side and manager Mauricio Pochettino has said that he needs another scan to
Everton suffer double injury blow ahead of - football.london
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has told ESPN FC in an exclusive interview that he wants Lionel Messi to remain linked to the club forever. who was always at Santos. We want Messi to
'We want Messi to always be at Barca' - Bartomeu
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian captain Thiago Silva has been granted French citizenship, he announced on Twitter on Friday. Continue reading PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship at Vanguard News Nigeria.
If You Only Own One Kitchen Thing It Should Be This. How big are your oven, stovetop, and sink? With a purchase like a dutch oven, you could and should have this thing forever.
Solskjaer warns Man Utd players over complacency and will look to keep that sequence going at Old Trafford on Saturday. "I want players to be confident but not be complacent and take their
Solskjaer warns Man Utd players over complacency | National
Top 10 Greatest Comebacks In Football History - YouTube
Aloysius Pang's ashes have been collected from Mandai Crematorium this morning (Jan 28) by his eldest brother. Grim-faced and wearing a pink T-shirt and flip-flops, Jefferson Pang was seen entering the complex at about 9.30am this morning, Lianhe Zaobao reported.
German factory gloom casts pall over euro-area economy
MANCHESTER: Pep Guardiola says Manchester City and Liverpool have raised the bar in what is required to win a Premier League title after a blockbuster campaign by both teams. If both sides win
Guardiola: Man City have raised the bar in EPL, Latest
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen