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Premier League | Gameweek 26
Feb 10, 2019 at 4pm UK
 
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6-0

Sterling (4', 80'), Aguero (13', 19', 56' pen.), Gundogan (25')
FT(HT: 4-0)

Sarri wants Jorginho to be great dictator against Manchester City

The playmaker is key to Chelsea's style of play as they like to dominate possession.

Maurizio Sarri wants Jorginho to show his credentials as Chelsea's great dictator in Sunday's Premier League clash at Manchester City.

Both City and Sarri's Chelsea like to dominate possession, with central playmaker Jorginho key to the Blues' style and substance.

That is where Sarri believes the match will be decided, rather than by the likes of Eden Hazard and Gonzalo Higuain for the visitors, or Sergio Aguero and company for the hosts.

Sarri said: "It will be really very difficult to be in control of the match. The match is there (in midfield), more than in the strikers."

Fernandinho and Jorginho
The contest between Manchester City's Fernandinho and Jorginho of Chelsea could be decisive on Sunday (Adam Davy/PA)

Jorginho has made the most passes in the Premier League this season (2,219; no assists), while Fernandinho is key for City, allowing his flashier team-mates to flourish.

Sarri, though, is adamant stopping Chelsea is not as simple as nullifying Jorginho, who followed him to Stamford Bridge from Napoli; likewise with Fernandinho and City.

"They are able to play if you stop Fernandinho and also we're able to play if you stop Jorginho," Sarri added.

"We have options. Maybe they have more options than us because they have worked on this for three seasons.

"But 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."

Pep Guardiola and Maurizio Sarri
Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri, right, reckons Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will dominate possession on Sunday (Adam Davy/PA)

The battle for possession will be an intriguing one, with City accustomed to having their own way, especially at home, where they have scored 43 goals in 13 league games.

Sarri added: "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.

"We will try to play our football, but if they are able to play their football, of course, you have to stay lower (deeper)."

Chelsea are unbeaten in seven fixtures against defending champions, having ended City's 21-match unbeaten run in the league on December 8.

That came as a surprise to many, with Sarri on Friday admitting his side were "lucky" in the win, built on strong defence and taking goalscoring opportunities, through N'Golo Kante and David Luiz.

Strikers were conspicuous by their absence that day, with Hazard deployed as Chelsea's 'false nine'.

Higuain's arrival has reduced the likelihood of Hazard being required to lead the line, but Sarri refused to rule out that possibility at the Etihad Stadium.

Gonzalo Higuain and Eden Hazard
Gonzalo Higuain and Eden Hazard have showed signs of a promising partnership (Andrew Matthews/PA)

He added: "The situation is not like the other match, so I can decide something different or have a 'false nine'."

There has been a nine-goal swing in Chelsea's last two performances.

A 4-0 loss at Bournemouth – Chelsea's worst in the Premier League since September 1996 – was followed by a 5-0 win over bottom club Huddersfield, when Higuain and Hazard each scored twice.

Sarri expressed hope, rather than conviction, that Chelsea will be at their best at City.

"Now we know very well we need consistency. I hope our version on Sunday will be the best," he added.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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