The job of Maurizio Sarri isn’t reportedly in any immediate danger, despite the massive and humiliating losses that Chelsea have suffered lately. In falling out of the top four, Chelsea have lost their last three Premier League road fixtures by an aggregate margin of 12-0.
The egregiously awful 6-0 defeat at Manchester City increased speculation that Sarriball might be extinguished soon, but the conventional wisdom says that he’ll get at least another month- unless his side crashes out of the UEFA Europa League.
If Sarri can win the Europa League, and with it secure UEFA Champions League qualification for next season, the Italian will reportedly be back for next season. Let’s take a look at who he may select in his first team to face Swedish side Malmo on Thursday.
The Bank Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction at Malmo (UEFA Europa League round of 32)
Attack: Callum Hudson-Odoi, Olivier Giroud, Willian
Midfield: Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Defense: Davide Zappacosta, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger, Emerson Palmieri
Goalkeeper: Willy Caballero
Chelsea FC at Malmo UEFA Europa League Round of 32 FYIs
Kickoff: Thursday, February 14, 8pm, Swedbank Stadion
Odds via Betfair: Chelsea 1/3, Draw 4/1, Malmo 17/2
Odds via Bet365 to win UEL tournament: Chelsea 4/1, Arsenal 6/1, Napoli 6/1, Inter 10/1, Sevilla 12/1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.