Maurizio Sarri’s reign at Chelsea shares similarities with Luiz Felipe Scolari – can he survive?
Maurizio Sarri has found out life at Chelsea can be challenging.Poor performances in recent months have seen patience grow thin for the Italian and supporters claim it is only a matter of time before he gets the boot.9A decade earlier, Luiz Felipe Scolari was hired by the Blues, but was soon shown the exit door.Could Chelsea be set to experience deja vu all these years later?

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The term Sarrismo is an expression used to describe the way in which Sarri has his teams play. It was coined in Italy, possession-based football; it requires players to be quick-witted, sharp, on the move, a more direct tika-taka, made famous by Barcelona under Pep Guardiola.This got Chelsea fans excited. Fast-paced, offensive and entertaining, it was a contrast to the negative, almost reluctant style deployed by predecessor Antonio Conte and less successfully so in his second and final season.9Carefully selected clips highlighted what Sarri had to offer, his Napoli side played beautiful football, challenged for the title. Dries Mertens changed position to great effect; Gonzalo Higuain could not stop scoring.Roman Abramovich liked what he saw, he has never made it a secret of his desire to see his club play attractive football. But this was an itch he had tried to scratch a decade earlier.In his playing career, Scolari was a no-nonsense defender for Caxias. He was imposing, lacked any real skills and featured as a centre-back. Team-mates referred to him as Perna-de-Pau, wooden leg in Brazilian Portuguese slang for bad player.Management was his next step upon retirement in 1982, Scolari won the championship with Gremio before a two-year spell in charge of Kuwait.By 2001, he had been appointed manager of Brazil. At the World Cup in Korea/Japan the following year, his side would win the tournament. Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho made up a formidable attack.9The trio were supported by the likes of Lucio, Edmilson, Cafu and Roberto Carlos. This is where Scolaris name would become household, known beyond his homeland.Taking charge of the Portugal national team, Scolari led Luis Figo and co to runners-up at Euro 2004. Two years later, they finished fourth at the World Cup in Germany. Scolaris stock was at an all-time high, Chelsea had taken note and Big Phil was tasked with sprinkling his national touch upon West London and turning the Blues into Champions of Europe.They had just lost the final to Manchester United under Avram Grant.The bullish approach which led him to national and league titles quickly became apparent, Scoalri was out to make his mark, stamp his authority. It was his first major club job in Europe.9In came Deco from Barcelona, Scolari knew him well from his time with Portugal. A long-range effort on his Premier League debut and a free-kick winner in the following match against Wigan appeared to justify his purchase. He was soon figured out as the season progressed.Scolari clashed with a number of big personalities, established international players used to getting their own way. Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, to name a few who had issues with the blunt approach of the new manager.In the case of Drogba, Scolari wanted Adriano from Inter Milan. A deal fell through and the Ivorian took this personally.9Anelka was unwilling to play on the left; he had been scoring regularly at the beginning of the season. His lack of discipline and selflessness infuriated Scoalri. The Frenchman was blamed years later for his sacking.This was not the case for everyone at Chelsea.“I enjoyed Scolari and [Carlo] Ancelotti – they’re probably my favourite two,” Ashley Cole told Monday Night Football when asked who his favourite manager to player under was.“Scolari came at a time where I probably wasn’t playing as well as I knew I could when I first came to Chelsea, and the fans will agree with me that I wasn’t the Ashley Cole they knew at Arsenal.9“He came and brought this new lease of life, it was just like playing for Brazil.Chelsea begun the 2008/09 season strongly, the first league loss came nine matches in, 1-0 at home to Liverpool. It ended a 86-game unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge.At the end of January 2009, patience had already begun to wear thin with Scolari. Chelsea had drawn with Fulham, they were then beaten, comprehensively 3-0 by Manchester United and needed a goal in the third minute of stoppage time from Frank Lampard to beat Stoke. A 2-0 loss to Liverpool was followed by a 0-0 draw at home to Hull. Scolari was sacked, dismissed after just seven months.Ten years on, the situation is eerily similar. Like Scolari, Sarri was acknowledged for the flair and how his teams played, the way Abramovich craved. Unlike Scolari however, the 60-year-old has spent two decades managing in Italy and has no trophies to show for it.Jorginho, like Deco under Scolari, was recruited by Sarri. A familiar face, one who knew his demands from their time together at Napoli, he was the man in which Chelsea would be built around.9For the first few games it worked. Quick passing, mostly sideways or one-touch, took Jorginho to the top of the statistics lists for passing. No assists but this mattered little in the initial stages as Chelsea kept winning, keeping pace with Liverpool and Manchester City.The midfielder was soon found out, Tottenham laid the blueprint, other teams soon took note and followed suit. Swarming him and isolating Eden Hazard. It is as simple as that.Gary Cahill, NGolo Kante, Cesc Fabregas, Ruben Loftus-Cheek were among those who have found life hard under Sarri.Cahill, the heartbeat of Chelseas defence in recent seasons, a hero in the 2012 Champions League final, now restricted to cup competitions and sometimes not even in the squad.9Kante, the defensive protector, who has been one of the clubs best players, moved out of position to accommodate Jorginho, then publicly criticised as not being technically good enough to play in the role he has made his own since joining Leicester in 2015.Sarri, as did Scolari, made an impressive start to life in England. He set a Premier League record for longest unbeaten run of a new manager, 12 games. But the wheels fell off suddenly and emphatically the following game, 3-1 to Spurs. Defeats to Wolves, Leicester, Arsenal and a humiliating 4-0 thumping at Bournemouth mean Sarri-ball is merely a slogan, a so-far failed experiment.9A fine coach Scoalri was, he was unable to adapt, believed the system should be the same always, Sarri too has the same philosophy, his stubbornness means refusal to change, adjust accordingly to the circumstances.The parallels with this season and Scolaris brief spell cannot be ignored. In fact, Scolari has a similar record to Sarri at the point he was fired. He had only lost five times in 36 matches. Sarri is now on seven from 39 matches.Patience is not a virtue in modern football, especially at Chelsea.They are 12 points off of Manchester City and there is no guarantee of dining at Europes top table next season.A 5-0 win over Huddersfield has momentarily kept reality at bay. Sarri will need to improve results if history is to avoid repeating itself.

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Aston Villa are reportedly keen to sign Gary Cahill and reunite him with John Terry. Cahill, who started his career with the Midlands club and played with Villa No.2 Terry at Chelsea, will be a free agent this summer.
Aston Villa want to reunite Gary Cahill and John Terry in
fussboll.com/2019/05/31/aston-villa-want-to-reunite-gary-cahill-and-john-terry-in-premier-league/
Aston Villa are reportedly keen to sign Gary Cahill and reunite him with John Terry. Cahill, who started his career with the Midlands club and played with Villa No.2 Terry at Chelsea, will be a free agent this summer.
Aston Villa want to reunite Chelsea outcast Gary Cahill with

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Alex Sandro has signed a new four and a half year contract with Juventus which will keep him at the club until summer 2023. The Brazilian left back's deal was due to run out in 2020, amid speculation that he could join either Manchester United, Chelsea or PSG in the coming summer.
Transfer news live: Arsenal eye Scotland star, why Liverpool

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Liverpool are reportedly considering a move for RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner and offloading the duo of Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi in January. The Germany international emerged the Reds' transfer target early December when the Anfield side sent scouts to watch him on the orders of Jurgen Klopp.
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Chelsea vs Manchester United: Juan Mata hails 'perfect response' to PSG defeat by beating FA Cup holders. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suffered his first setback in charge of United last week with

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Liverpool legend slept on the floor with homeless people to make it to Madrid 'NOT HAPPY' John Barnes tells 'nervy' Liverpool fans to calm down as pressure ramps up
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Jack Grealish was linked with a move to Tottenham last summer (Image: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images) "As you said, he has committed his future to the football club. He has got a long term contract, he's a Villa fan, and he is now the captain of the football club, so there are an awful lot of things for him to stay at this
Grealish not heading to Tottenham? - One News Page

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Liverpool news: Alisson produces outrageous save from Virgil van Dijk's shot when back is turned in warm-up to Huddersfield clash You'd Like this VIDEO Watford vs Southampton (Premier League) Highlights
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~ Ryan Kent: Rangers winger facing two-match ban for shoving Celtic captain Scott Brown in the face ~ Kenya Latest
Rangers: Ryan Kent offered ban for lashing out at Celtic

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As has become an annual custom, Chelsea have sent out a small army of youth team and fringe first-team players out on loan for the season ahead. Here's our guide to all 31 of them.

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Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial remain doubts as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United prepare to face Bournemouth. The caretaker manager has overseen comprehensive wins
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Unai Emery's Arsenal press conference: Keylor Navas transfer rumour, FA Cup history, Man City vs Liverpool The Gunners take on Blackpool in the FA Cup third round this weekend and Emery has
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This will, as always, be the most informed and comprehensive list of Football Manager 2018 wonderkids you will ever find.. When it comes to wonderkid lists, you already know FM Scout is the go-to place for maximum accuracy and detail.

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Emmanuel Petit shuts down Anthony Martial-Thierry Henry comparisons and says Manchester United star needs to improve mentally
Manchester United star Anthony Martial needs to improve mentally, according to former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit.The winger, 22, has been in fine form this season, netting six league goals in as many games, however, Petit has questioned the Frenchman’s attitude.2Martial, who joined United in a 36million deal from Monaco in 2015, has been likened to France and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.But Petit, who played alongside Henry in Frances World Cup-winning campaign in 1998, has shut down comparisons between the pair.He said: Its too much to ask. I know people are happy to make comparisons with former players. I think its too soon. I wish him the same career as Thierry Henry, but hes so far away from him.2Hes a very talented player, I like him, hes got pace, hes a real danger when he runs with the ball.But he needs to improve mentally, he needs to understand and accept that when you play for such a big club like Manchester United, expectations are very high.Its not one game per month, its every three days. If you want to improve and make your career then you have to push your limits all the time. Just like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo or Kylian Mbappe with Paris Saint-Germain, you need to have real ambition every single day, you need to put targets to yourself.You can make a [promise] to yourself thinking, Okay, I want to play well sometimes, but after three or four games I can recover and then rest for two or three games – no, it doesnt work like that, not with Manchester United.When you play for big clubs you have to be good as often as possible.

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A far more telling lyric comes from the fantastic Half Man Half Biscuit in their song which came from a mid eighties Peel session, there doesn't seem to be any room for doubt in the lyric about what they are saying and in the second four lines it alludes to some very dark stuff…
Half Man Half Biscuit - Interview with Nigel Blackwell

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Tottenham new stadium opening: When will first match take

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Alexis Sanchez posted a parody of an 'I Am Legend' movie poster on Instagram to mark his return to goalscoring form in Manchester United's FA Cup victory over Arsenal.. The mock up image, which
Alexis Sanchez trolls Arsenal with hilarious poster after

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Chelsea's 4-0 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth was one to forget for all concerned. Loan striker Gonzalo Higuain, though, will have wanted a better debut in the English top flight after his switch from Juventus. Chelsea star Gonzalo Higuain endured a frustrating Premier League debut against Bournemouth.
Gonzalo Higuain's nightmare Premier League debut by the

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Grealish won his penalty, and Tammy, calm as a cucumber, put it away. That was basically game over for West Bromwich Albion, and Villa could have had two more on another day. I was glad to see Gayle get a second yellow for his attempts to deceive the ref, and try and get Villa players booked with his theatricals.

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SOUTH COAST CLASH Bournemouth vs Liverpool: Match preview and confirmed team news as James Milner makes 500th Premier League appearance
Liverpool team news: James Milner starts at right-back and

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I'm a Celebrity 2018: Harry Redknapp says singer Fleur East

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted even he didn't expect the 9-0 annihilation of Burton which rendered the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final all but meaningless. Gabriel Jesus bagged four, with Kevin De Bruyne, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez also getting in on the act for a rampant City.
Man City were right to show no mercy to Burton Albion in

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Swansea winger Daniel James has agreed personal terms with Manchester United, Sky Sports News understands. The two clubs are yet to agree a deal, contrary to reports, but talks are continuing and
Manchester United agree Daniel James deal with Swansea

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Real Madrid appoint interim boss Santiago Solari as new permanent manager until 2021. Los Blancos have seen a dramatic turnaround in form since Solari took over from the sacked Julen Lopetegui
Real Madrid appoint Santiago Solari on surprise permanent

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Luka Jovic to Liverpool and Gary Cahill to AC Milan are two of today's hot rumours, according to Football Whispers. Milan have begun assessing short-term January transfer options and Cahill's
Chelsea transfer news: AC Milan reject chance to sign Gary Cahill

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Disgraced former England international Adam Johnson is believed to have been released from prison after serving three years for child sex offences. The former Sunderland and Manchester City winger
Adam Johnson: Ex-footballer released after serving three

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Ajax: Four great teams who saw their best stars sold too soon, including Porto and Monaco
Ajax are a simply delightful team to watch.They ran rings around Spurs at points during the first leg of thier semi-final tie last Tuesday with their neat intricate passing – and it took a change of Tottenham’s formation for them to be stopped.5One thing is almost certain, however, and that is their squad will be raided in the summer once the transfer window is open.Midfield starlet Frenkie de Jong has already completed a 65million deal to Barcelona – and there could be much more to come, with Matthijs de Ligt, Andre Onana, Donny van de Beek, David Neres and Hakim Ziyech all heavily linked with a move away.In light of the reports and the inevitable exodus of talent, talkSPORT.com takes a look at some of the previous teams that have been broken up too soon…

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PSV Eindhoven 2005

This PSV side were the last side outside of the ‘Big Five’ leagues to make it to the semi-final of the Champions League prior to Ajax.The team had a line-up including some legends of the game and heroes on their way to stardom, but it was eventually pulled apart from clubs around Europe.5Managed by Guus Hiddink, PSV had current Watford stopper Heurelho Gomes between the sticks.Alex, who was on loan from Chelsea at the time, was also a towering presence at the heart of defence.Other notable squad members include ex-Man United star Park Ji-Sung, Mark van Bommel and Wilfried Bouma, who all packed their bags after their agonising defeat to AC Milan in the semi-final of Champions League.

Ajax 1996-99

Another incredible team which was picked apart by the big boys was Louis van Gaal’s Ajax side of the middle-to-late 90s.Van Gaal guided his side to European glory following a victory over AC Milan in 1996 and Clarence Seedorf departed for Sampdoria following the triumph.5The next year’s summer was when the team was really raided. Milan president Silvio Berlusconi swooped in for defender Michael Reizifer and midfielder Edgar Davids, with Nwankwo Kanu heading to Inter.The year after that Marc Overmars and Patrick Kluivert went with Van Gaal to Barcelona and they were followed by the De Boer twins the following year.

Monaco 2017

This Monaco side was chock full of stars and defied the odds by beating Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 crown.They almost went all the way in the Champions League too, beating the likes of Pep Guardiola’s Man City before being they were defeated by Juventus in the semi-final.The list of stars in their team was endless, with global superstar Kylian Mbappe and Bernardo Silva both up top in the forward three.5Benjamin Mendy was a powerhouse on the left side of defence and Chelsea flop Tieumoue Bakayoko was the solid anchor in front of the back line.PSG and City then went in for three of those stars, with Silv, Mendy and Mbappe heading in their direction for a combined 135million.Bakayoko was sold to Chelsea for 35million and as we know, things didn’t pan out well for the Frenchman in west London.

Porto 2004

This was the team where Jose Mourinho made his name as one of the rising stars of management.Porto’s side was littered with talent from across the Primeira Liga and he then desecrated the team by bringing several of them to Chelsea.He won the Champions League with Porto with defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira, who later went to the Blues.5Deco was a target for Chelsea but he opted to go to Barcelona, while Pedro Mendes joined Spurs.The following season, Porto fell apart and slipped two second in the league, ridding of two managers in the process.No team outside of the ‘Big Five’ leagues has won the prestigious tournament since.

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Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Man City, Barcelona and rest of Europe - deals and signings. Sportsmail brings you every update and movement as they happen
Transfer news: Two Premier League clubs join Barcelona in

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He actually did go from rags to riches, and that timeline doesn't go from 2012. His grandpa killed and his house burnt in war, and they had to fled their house and seek refuge at some cheap hotel At 15 years old he was rejected from his favorite club (Hajduk Split - 2nd best club in Croatia), and then Mamic brought him to Dinamo Zagreb.
Who will win in Ballon d'Or 2019, Messi or Ronaldo? - Quora

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Tottenham travels to face Italian giants Inter Milan in their Champions League opener as both teams look to bounce back from their recent domestic slump. Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key
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Derby County completed a 3-2 victory against Leeds United at Elland Road on Wednesday in the Championship promotion playoffs. The result meant that the Rams won the tie 4-3 on aggregate and they will now play in the Playoff final against Aston Villa on Monday with the winner getting the right to play Premier League […]
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Former Newcastle and Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has said he has been given the all-clear following his battle with cancer. Enrique was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2018 and underwent
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Montenegro boss claims England have no weaknesses Date published: Sunday 24th March 2019 3:01 Montenegro head coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic has been searching for a weakness in the England team - but
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Little more Liverpool can do in quest for Prem title. Liverpool can do in quest for Premier League title. which saw Jurgen Klopp's side reclaim top spot in the Premier League and move two
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Jose Mourinho claims he risked being dismissed at Manchester United if he mishandled Paul Pogba. In a subtle swipe at a player he labelled 'His Excellency', the 56-year-old suggested he would have been 'sent on vacation' by Old Trafford chiefs had he come down hard on the France midfielder.

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Fantasy Premier League tips: Transfer advice for Gameweek 34

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Manchester City's head physio Lee Nobes has left the club to join Premier League rivals Liverpool, according to reports. Nobes' final match serving the Etihad Stadium club was Sunday's 3-1
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Arsenal head of football Raul Sanllehi admits Danny Welbeck's serious ankle injury could force the club to rethink their January transfer plans - but insists the England international will get
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In an official statement unveiling the news on the team's website, it states: "Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels are not part of Joachim Low's future plans. The German head coach confirmed his decision on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the first international of the year against Serbia in Wolfsburg on 20th March."
Low tells Muller, Boateng and Hummels they will NEVER play

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