Chelsea player ratings and analysis: Maurizio Sarri’s job surely under threat but players must also take responsibility

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Simon Johnson10 February 2019

Chelsea were humiliated as Manchester City ran riot at the Etihad on Sunday.

Sergio Aguero struck his 11th Premier League hat-trick as the champions strolled to a 6-0 win - Chelsea's biggest defeat in Premier League history.

The Blues have now shipped 10 goals in their last two away games in the league, slipping to sixth behind Arsenal.

Simon Johnson was in Manchester to provide analysis on a harrowing afternoon for Maurizio Sarri and his side.

Maurizio Sarri’s job has to be under threat

Chelsea have shown over the years that they’re not patient with their managers when things are going awry and they must be questioning whether they appointed the right man now.

Sarri and Chelsea humiliated at the Etihad.
Getty Images

It is not just the fact they’ve been losing games on a regular basis since late November, it is the manner.

Sarri has said he is struggling to motivate his players but that is pretty obvious by the performances taking place.

Just 11 days ago, Bournemouth inflicted the club’s heaviest loss for 23 years in a 4-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium.

Somehow Chelsea made that display look good in comparison today – at least they got to half-time still level back then.

Against the defending champions, they surrendered from the outset and could have easily lost by double figures. To ship six goals though meant it was the biggest margin since a 7-0 drubbing by Nottingham Forest in 1991.

Chelsea have more important fixtures to come in all four competitions this month so Sarri may have a chance to turn things around. It just doesn’t look very likely.

Players have to take responsibility too

As much as Sarri will bear the brunt of the criticism over the next few days, that doesn’t mean the Chelsea team selected aren’t blameless.

Every single member of the 18-man squad is an international and yet those that featured surrendered so meekly.

REUTERS

There was the odd attacking thrust – certainly more than in the corresponding fixture last term – but a lot of the time they just went through the motions.

There was little resistance when City crossed the half-way line though.

You have to wonder where the pride and passion has gone from individuals who have winners’ medals galore.

Decision to start Ross Barkley backfires

Perhaps the only element of surprise Sarri caused this afternoon was by selecting the England international in midfield rather than Mateo Kovacic.

The latter hasn’t been particularly impressive, however he does form more of a barrier.

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Barkley had a good game against Huddersfield last week, but it goes without saying the calibre of opposition wasn’t quite the same.

The former Everton trainee is not known for his ability to defend and given he was alongside the pace-less Jorginho, it meant City had an even bigger weakness to exploit.

Barkley looked completely lost as the men in sky blue ran past him time and time again.

Presumably picked to provide some assists, he did get one to his name but sadly for City as his terrible back header set up Sergio Aguero.

Inevitably he was replaced Kovacic in the 55th minute and this won’t have helped his fragile confidence whatsoever.

Just how good is Kepa Arrizabalaga?

Five months following his arrival from Athletic Bilbao, it is still subject to debate.

The Spain international arrived for a world record £71.6million and had the difficult task of replacing serial winner Thibaut Courtois.

There have been positives. Kepa is very good with the ball at his feet and has pulled off some key saves on occasion.

Kepa arguably at fault for at least one of City's goals.
Getty Images

But then there are performances like this one where you look at some of the shots flying past him and wondering whether he could have done a bit better.

Obviously he had little to no protection from Chelsea’s woeful defence, but that doesn’t mean he escapes scrutiny.

As stunning a shot as Sergio Aguero’s was for the second, a taller goalie of Courtois’ mode might have been able to prevent it.

That assessment maybe a bit harsh, but there is no doubt he should have done better with Ilkay Gundogan’s curler for the fourth.

But in fairness, he came to Chelsea’s rescue at times, especially when he denied Gabriel Jesus after the break.

Kepa is a good keeper, but you couldn’t say he’s worth the price Chelsea paid yet.

Another bad start in a big game

You would think that the message would have dropped in the Chelsea squad by now that there is a big price to pay for lethargy against the best opponents.

Chelsea player ratings

Kepa: 5

Azpilicueta: 3

Rudiger: 4

Luiz: 4

Alonso: 3

Kante: 5

Jorginho: 3

Barkley: 3

Pedro: 4

Higuain: 5

Hazard: 5

 

In previous fixtures away at one of the ‘big five’ this season, they fell behind early at Tottenham and Arsenal.

Once momentum is so easily lost it is very hard to recover so one would have though Chelsea might have been fully focused from the kick-off at Etihad Stadium.

After all this was a City side that had scored within the first two minutes against Newcastle and Arsenal recently.

Pep Guardiola’s side also went into the contest with an impressive 43 strikes to their name in just 13 League games at the Etihad Stadium.

And yet Chelsea were caught napping at City’s first attack – a simple quickly taken free kick was enough to lead to chaos among the visitors’ defence.

In an embarrassing half hour, City looked like they could add to their scoreline at will and the game was over before it had really begun.

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