Sports

Maurizio Sarri warns Chelsea can expect MONTHS of ‘problems with results’ as players get used to his tactics

Published

8 years ago

August 11, 2018

Chelsea are in for “problems” in the early months of the Maurizio Sarri era, according to… Maurizio Sarri.

The Blues’ new manager has only been in office since early July because of the drawn-out way predecessor Antonio Conte left the club, but must take his team to Huddersfield on Saturday for their first game of the Premier League season.

Sarri reckons it could take another eight weeks for the players to get properly used to the new ideas and tactics he has had to force-feed them with over a pre-season also affected by the World Cup not ending until July 15.

Asked to clarify what form these “problems” might take, the 59-year-old former Napoli coach answered: “The results.

Sarri gives Cesar Azpilicueta instructions during last week’s Community Shield defeat (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

“The performances in the first part of the season will not be in line with the potential of the squad.”

They are brave words for a new coach of Chelsea, who has seen two of his predecessors, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Andre Villas-Boas, sacked after eight and nine months respectively by Abramovich, an owner not known for his patience.

But Sarri pointed to his late appointment and a chaotic pre-season as legitimate reasons why he should be granted time to get things right at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian said: “We are not at the top of our potential. I hope to be at the top of the potential of the squad in one or two months, but I don’t know.

Assistant manager Gianfranco Zola makes a post-match point to Antonio Rudiger (Image: AFP/Getty)

“I hope that the second part of the season will be very good with a lot of points. In the first part I expect some problems on the results. Maybe the performances in the first part of the season will not be in line with the potential of the squad.

“The board know this.

“Next year, I will try and change pre-season completely — if I can. I arrived in the middle of July, so the problem was there. I had to accept it completely, but for the future, it would be better to change.”

Sarri is set to give new £71.6million world-record goalkeeping signing Kepa his debut at the John Smith’s Stadium. But his other new capture this week, on-loan Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic, is likely to have to wait.

Chelsea seem determined to get their money’s worth with Kepa set to go straight into the side (Image: Chelsea FC/Getty)

The Italian’s style of quick-passing, high-pressure football became known as “Sarri-ball” at Napoli, where he led the club to two second place finishes in Serie A in three years.

To get that though, Chelsea fans need to be patient.

Sari said: “You have to wait for a couple of months. I don’t know exactly what Sarri-ball is. It’s not my definition.

“At Napoli, we played at great speed, moving the ball forward and back with continuity. It was fun for the supporters, and useful for results. We got 91 points last season. On 23 of the last 25 Serie A seasons, that was enough to win the championship. So it was a bit unlucky.

“I don’t know if we can play the same way in England. It depends on the characteristics of the Premier League and my players. I have to adapt myself.”

Scoring goals was a problem for Conte’s team last year – they managed only 62, the fewest among the Big Six – and they netted only three times in five warm-up games this summer.

Sarri warned his players: “The offensive phase may be a problem.

“We have to play at another speed. If we are able to do that, scoring will not be a problem. But at this speed, it may be.”

Sports

‎Oseni Mobilises Supporters with Free Tickets for Shooting Stars’ Victory ‎

Published

7 days ago

August 29, 2026

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan on their 2-1 victory over newly promoted Inter Lagos in the opening fixture of the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
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‎The Oluyole Warriors began their campaign on a winning note at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, on Friday, securing three points in front of their home supporters.
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‎Ahead of the encounter, the lawmaker mobilised hundreds of supporters to the stadium and provided free tickets for fans to enable them to watch and cheer the Ibadan-based club.
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‎The mobilisation, led by members of his youth wing, contributed to the strong home support for Shooting Stars as the team battled the Lagos-based newcomers in an entertaining opening-day encounter.
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‎In a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, who represents, Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency said he was delighted with the victory and commended the players, coaches, management and supporters of the club for starting the new season on a positive note.
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The statement added that the gesture was a reflection of Oseni’s passion for sports and his belief that sustained support from the fans could inspire the team to greater achievements during the season.
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“ Oseni is a lover of sports and passionate about Shooting Stars. This is one of the ways, among others, that we can support the team and encourage them in their quest for victory,” the statement stressed.
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It further explained that the free tickets were provided to encourage more supporters to fill the stands and give the players the backing they needed, particularly in their first home game of the season.
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According to the statement, Oseni believes that sports provide an important platform for youth engagement, development and community pride, stressing that Shooting Stars remains a club with a strong place in the identity of Ibadan and Oyo State.
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‎On the pitch, Lucky Emmanuel put Shooting Stars ahead in the 15th minute before Inter Lagos equalised through Uchenna Njoku. Sodiq Ibrahim restored the home side’s lead from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, with the score remaining 2-1 until the final whistle.
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‎The APC chieftain urged the Oluyole Warriors to build on the victory and maintain their winning mentality throughout the season, assuring the team of his continued support and encouragement.

Sports

Oyo APC Demands Probe of N5.5bn Lekan Salami Stadium Renovation

Published

3 weeks ago

August 18, 2026

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The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-graft agencies to investigate the N5.5bn reportedly spent on the renovation of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.

The party made the call following the reported rejection of the stadium by the Confederation of African Football as a venue for Shooting Stars Sports Club’s continental campaign.

Shooting Stars secured qualification for continental football after about 28 years but will reportedly play its home matches in Abeokuta after the Ibadan stadium failed to meet CAF’s requirements.

In a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Tuesday, the Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, described the development as disappointing and embarrassing to the state.

The party alleged that the CAF decision had raised questions about the quality of work carried out at the stadium and the funds reportedly committed to its renovation.

Sadare said the state government should explain why a facility said to have gulped N5.5bn could not secure approval to host a continental competition.

He said, “Everyone in the state should ask Governor Makinde to explain the circumstances surrounding the stadium’s failure to secure approval for the CAF Confederation Cup and provide details of the funds committed to its renovation and upgrading.”

The APC also criticised what it described as the alleged delivery of substandard projects by the Makinde administration, citing the recent erosion that reportedly damaged part of a road project in Bodija shortly after its commissioning.

The party said the stadium’s failure to host Shooting Stars’ continental fixtures was particularly unfortunate because the club’s return to African competition after nearly three decades should have provided Oyo State with an opportunity to showcase its sporting infrastructure to a wider African audience.

The APC therefore urged the EFCC and other relevant anti-graft agencies to investigate the award and execution of the stadium project, establish how the funds were spent and make anyone found culpable to face the law.

It also called on the state government to urgently address the deficiencies identified at the stadium and ensure that the facility is upgraded to meet international standards and capable of hosting major continental competitions in the future.

Sports

UCL Final: ‘I hope last year’s loss to PSG still hurts’ – Wilshere messages Arsenal

Published

3 months ago

May 28, 2026

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Former Arsenal star, Jack Wilshere, has sent a message to the Gunners ahead of their UEFA Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal will take on the French Ligue 1 giants in the Champions League final this year in Budapest on Saturday evening.

Mikel Arteta’s side had lost 3-1 on aggregate against PSG in the Champions League semi-final stage last year.

Speaking on TNT Sports (via GOAL), Wilshere remembered Arsenal about their last year’s defeat to PSG and urged them to use it as a revenge to get a win against Luis Enrique’s side when both sides meet again this weekend.

“Now that the Premier League is over the line, I know that the Premier League was the one. I know that Mikel wanted that. I know that the boys wanted that,” Wilshere said.

“Now you have to go through some tough times and learn from it. I hope that the Champions League semi-final [PSG 3-1 Arsenal] last year hurt them enough that they can go on and use that [against PSG].

“I think when you are on the pitch, and you are playing against your direct opponent, you learn so much about them. And to face them next year, they will be better for that.”