Maurizio Sarri denies attacking Chelsea players after Bournemouth defeat

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has denied attacking his players in the wake of their 4-0 thrashing in the hands of Bournemouth on Wednesday.

Sarri held a lengthy dressing room debrief alone with his squad after the defeat to discuss the capitulation .

According to several reports, the Italian picked apart Chelsea’s display over the course of the game and singled out a number of players for blame over their performances.

“I didn’t attack my players,” Sarri explained during his Friday’s media conference ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League game against Huddersfield.

“I talked to them because I needed to understand. Then I went home immediately because I wanted to review the match, there wasn’t another reason.”

“I am not able to motivate them, I said this, but if we have some mental problems then I think the reason could be the players or could be the technical staff, could be the club. I can’t think about the club, only the players.”

“The staff, first of all, the players first of all. I said I am probably not able to motivate them. After another match, I said probably it is difficult to motivate them. It is part of my job of course. I want to change the mentality, it is a long way.”

“I think my football is co-operation so I need to speak to my players and involve them more than I am doing at the moment. We need to improve in the reaction, the offensive phase as we have a lot of individual players, it is not easy to change.”

“In the last game we built up the action in the first half well, but then we were too tight with the offensive players so it was easy for the players to defend. We need to stay high and wide.”

“I need to change completely the mentality as they were used to playing in counter-attacks, it is a long way I think but I am trying to change the mentality.”

“I want to score and have the right reaction if we concede a goal. We have to just play. We were in control, we have to start again. We have only to play.”

Sarri also admits that the challenge of managing Chelsea is tougher than he first thought.

“Probably yes, but I knew very well it is very difficult because here the level is very high. It is difficult because this team played another football and won with another style of football. It is very difficult,” he said.

“I have to involve my players more in my football than we are doing at the moment. Now we have the mentality for doing the match. We have to improve our reactions and improve in the offensive phase. We have a lot of individual phase.

“First of all I want to do very well the Plan A. I don’t want to change something that at the moment doesn’t work very well. First of all, I want to see my football played very well. Then we can go to change something.”

“They were really patient, we have to work to change the mentality and go on. For me, the situation is very clear.”
On Hazard, who has been accused of playing the way he wants, Sarri said:

“I think he is changing. He was used to playing as an individual player but now he has to play in a cooperative way.

“It is not easy for him because he became Hazard playing another way. I know it isn’t easy but now he is more available to play this way.”

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