MX23RW : Saturday, April 27 04:55:01| >> :120:5265:5265:
[monks data]
Attendance: 54,452
Manchester City logo
Premier League | Gameweek 26
Feb 10, 2019 at 4pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

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.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Matt McGeehan, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'a49ef592-1cf6-429b-a8dc-ce49979e1348');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Sarri wants Jorginho to be great dictator against Manchester City'});

ID:349891: cacheID:349891:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9988:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola watches on against Everton in the Premier League on February 6, 2019
Read Next:
Win over Chelsea will prove our title credentials - Guardiola
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1pm
Bublik
Carballes Baena
10am
Auger-Aliassime
Mannarino
10am
Bautista Agut
Khachanov
10am
Cachin
Tiafoe
10am
De Minaur
Nadal
10am
Dimitrov
Mensik
10am
Jarry
Cobolli
10am
Kecmanovic
Ruud
10am
Kotov
Thompson
10am
Lehecka
Medjedovic
10am
Machac
Shelton
10am
Medvedev
Arnaldi
10am
Monteiro
Tsitsipas
10am
Norrie
Fonseca
10am
Purcell
Korda
10am
Sinner
Sonego
10am
Azarenka
Sorribes Tormo
10am
Annie Fernandez
Jabeur
10am
Gauff
Yastremska
10am
Haddad Maia
Navarro
10am
Keys
Samsonova
10am
Ostapenko
Lourdes Carle
10am
Stephens
Sakkari
10am
Swiatek
Cirstea
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!