Ranking Maurizio Sarri’s most important players at Chelsea

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Behind every amendment is a group of willing congressmen, behind every Rabona a high-class technician and behind every panenka a playmaker with nerves of steel. But behind every successful manager is a spine; a reliable subset of players capable of transmitting instructions from paper to pitch, with unerring mastery, to the satisfaction of the man barking orders from the sidelines.

At Napoli, the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Jorginho, Allan, Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne and Marek Hamsik became irreplaceable cogs in the wheel of Sarri-ball, eventually pushing Juventus all the way before toiling with our emotions when it mattered the most. But the bottom line is, Sarri’s Napoli had a spine, and they all played their roles remarkably well.

Logic suggests then, that at Chelsea, the Tuscan coach probably already has a spine in place. Thus, Who are Chelsea’s most important players in the Maurizio Sarri era?

Predict the game

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#5 Kepa Arrizabalaga

After all is said and done, if there’s no reliable gatekeeper, the city loses all sense of security. The former Bilbao goalkeeper is considered by CIES Football observatory to be the most overpaid summer transfer, but given his age and what he brings to the to the table both now and in the long term, Maurizio Sarri couldn’t care less.

Kepa’s mix of bravery, intelligent ball playing, exceptional reflexes and calmness between the sticks, are different components of his optimal in-game decision-making which makes life easier for Antonio Rudiger and co.

Three conceded goals in four games is no way to judge a new signing. Chelsea’s defence under Sarri is still a work in progress. But as the new era unfolds, it will be clear to all why Real Madrid wouldn’t let go, and why Chelsea had to set a world record transfer fee for the 24-year-old goalkeeper.

#4 N’Golo Kante

Arguably the best thing that’s happened to Chelsea since Jose Mourinho, N’Golo Kante remains the most effective ball-winning midfielder alive, and although Sarri’s high-pressing possession-based brand of football suggests there’s less work to be done, the Frenchman’s services have remained top notch.

N’Golo Kante is probably the most loved footballer on the planet right now, but infectious smiles and down to earth attitude aside, it is his unmatched mastery at recovering the ball in record time, that makes him a priceless asset for Maurizio Sarri.

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#3 Cesar Azpilicueta

You see Marcos Alonso on endless goal-scoring adventures and it’s puzzling how a left-back does so much in the final third and still manages to sit up defensively, right? Look no further than Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea’s commander-in-chief.

What Alonso’s compatriot does could be referred to as the “cover job”. While Marcos Alonso makes those well-timed runs in the final third, the more defensively disciplined Azpilicueta simply sits back and provides the requisite balance in Chelsea’s high defensive line.

Alongside Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard, the Spaniard happens to be one of Chelsea’s longest-serving players in the current roster and the significance of his experience and leadership on the pitch cannot be overstated.

2 Eden Hazard

The fear of Eden Hazard approaching your box is the beginning of heart palpitations.

As crucially important as Jorginho is to Maurizio Sarri, there’s only so much orchestration he can do from the middle of the park, and Hazard’s unimaginable footwork in the final third, not Jorginho’s passing, is what makes the net bulge in Chelsea’s favour.

In previous regimes, the Belgian saw less of the ball than he sees now. Mourinho and Conte’s predominantly conservative approach limited Hazard’s threat to counter-attacks as Chelsea rarely ever controlled games.

Things are different now, the Blues have more possession of the ball, which invariably means Hazard gets more supply and has an unrestrained liberty to influence games like never before; Against Huddersfield, and against Arsenal, the Belgian playmaker came on as a sub and still did serious damage.

Thus far, he’s played all four of Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures and he’s had a telling impact on all; twice as a sub, twice in the starting eleven. Enough said.

#1 Jorginho

A dyed-in-the-wool disciple of Sarrismo, the midfield metronome’s upward trajectory since 2015 has been a function of his unique relationship with the one and only Maurizio Sarri

The Tuscan didn’t just unlock Jorginho’s potential at Napoli, he literally breathed life into the player’s career and it’s not surprising at all that the distinguished Centrocampista has grown into the perfect Sarri soldier

Under Antonio Conte, Chelsea were content with sitting back and playing on the counter; that’s not how Sarri plays. With Jorginho dictating the tempo from the base of the midfield and at a speed often overwhelming for opponents, the blues are controlling games from the get-go, outpassing opponents, and keeping more of the ball.

Thus far in 2018-19, the Brazil-born midfielder currently leads the Premier League with the most passes, a beautiful reflection of just how important he is, and will continue to be for Sarri’s Chelsea.