It took 19 games for Maurizio Sarri to suffer defeat as Chelsea manager, but a stunning start to life at Stamford Bridge has quickly turned sour with the Italian lambasting his side’s mental fortitude after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Arsenal. A fourth loss in 11 league games leaves Chelsea at serious risk of missing out on the Champions League for a second consecutive season for the first time since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003. Sarri’s men are still in pole position for a top-four finish, but lead Arsenal and a resurgent Manchester United by just three points. Moreover, Chelsea still have to visit United, as well as title-chasing Liverpool and Manchester City in their final 15 games of the league campaign. The trend since the Blues lost for the first time under Sarri at Tottenham at the end of November suggests Chelsea will not maintain their slender lead. Under Abramovich Chelsea managers do not tend to be given time if unsuccessful in their first season. Sarri insisted ...
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