Heading into the headliner fixture of the Premier League weekend, Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Manchester City, Blues boss Maurizio Sarri played some brilliant mind games. Before the crunch clash at Stamford Bridge, Sarri doubled down on statements he made earlier this season in which he claimed his side wasn’t in the same class as the reigning champions.
On Saturday, Chelsea wasn’t just in the same proverbial league as Man City, they were better as they handed the Sky Blues their first defeat of the Premier League season. With that result, City fell below Liverpool and into second place in the standings. Chelsea are now fourth, tied with Arsenal on points, but +5 over the Gunners on goal differential.
It’s a two horse league title race now, and it could become a three team competition before all is said and done. Like a game of online poker at capsa online, there are numerous outcomes possible with a host of different factors that will influence the result. All the variabilities involved makes it very exciting! Sarri said his team has some issues with motivation this season, and he hopes that changes moving forward now.
The Italian yearns to see his side approaching games against the smaller clubs in the league with the same kind of intensity and focus that they brought to the big clash against the reigning champs.
“We have a team with some difficulties to be motivated. In this kind of match it’s very easy to have great motivation, determination, the right level of aggression. Then during a season you have to play small teams,” he said.
Chelsea will next to take on Vidi Thursday night in the Europa League’s final group stage match day.
The Blues have long already taken care of business in that stage of that competition, so the next meaningful clash is at Brighton on the weekend.
“For example, in Brighton there will be three points on the pitch like today,” Sarri said. “We need continuity in motivation and determination. Otherwise we can win this kind of match and lose points in another match.”
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 Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.