His Chelsea reign began with an 18-match unbeaten run, but now—halfway through his first season in England—questions are emerging over whether Maurizio Sarri is really the tactical mastermind who can lead the Blues into a new era.
It was after a goalless draw at home to Southampton on January 2 that patience began to wear thin for many. For weeks the team had been looking slow and lacking in invention. They struggled for goals with five from five matches against Bournemouth, Watford, Leicester, Crystal Palace and Saints.
Journalist Dan Levene was one of the most vocal after their drab Southampton affair, declaring on Twitter that Sarri's football was "blunt, ineffective and pointlessly possession-laden.