Chelsea vs Man City: 5 ways how Maurizio Sarri can win the game | Carabao Cup Final
Chelsea and Manchester City battle it out in the final of the Carabao Cup on Sunday. Both teams have met twice before this season and have one win each. However, the recent humiliation of Chelsea by City at the Etihad was a glowing marker of the standards set by the reigning Premier League champions.
The game also marks the battle between two managers - good friends - who like to keep the ball. Both Maurizio Sarri and Pep Guardiola prefer possession-based football, however, their contrasting fortunes indicate a significant difference between the two sides.
While City have been exceptionally good once again this season, "Sarri-ball" has failed to inspire Chelsea of late.
A lot is at stake for both sides on Sunday. City would like to retain their trophy and stamp their authority in the tournament, while Sarri knows that owing to recent results, a Silverware could secure his position at the club and turn Chelsea's season around.
The Italian will be aware that winning on Sunday will be extremely tough, but here are 5 tactics that he could use to get the better of his old friend.
#5 Keep a close eye on Fernandinho
The Brazilian is the heart of Pep Guardiola's side. While he is primarily a defensive midfielder, Fernandinho brings a lot more to this City side and he is their unsung hero on the pitch.
His primary responsibility is to shield his defence and this is something he is extremely good at. Even though Fernandinho is not the quickest across the field, his positioning and ability to anticipate the opponent's next move helps him deal with almost everything that is thrown at him.
He covers for his centre-backs as well as his fullbacks with equal efficiency. Without him, this City side looks vulnerable and shaky in the centre.
However, there is another side to the Brazilian that is often overlooked. He is a fantastic passer of the ball and can pick out his teammates with brilliantly weighted long balls as well.
As such, the key to stopping City is by keeping a close watch on Fernandinho. Sarri could deploy a man marker or could ask Kante to stay close to the Brazilian. If Fernandinho is successfully marked out of the game, Chelsea will enhance their chances of winning.