Premier League 2018/19 Matchweek 24: 5 things we learned

#4 Sarriball is the problem, not the strikers

Sarri's Chelsea have lost back to back games

65 minutes, 29 touches, 18 completed passes and 0 shots. One can be forgiven for assuming this stats are that of a defender or a defensive midfielder. However, the above stats are that of Gonzalo Higuain on his PL debut vs Bournemouth.

Fans and pundits have moaned all season about a lack of a lethal frontman at Stamford Bridge. The frontman favoured by the manager finally arrived and has just had this numbers on a debut to forget.

It is not a striker problem that is plaguing the London club, it is a Sarriball problem. The system has too many flaws that can be easily exploited by the opposition and Maurizio Sarri has bluntly refused to even consider a change.

Chelsea are an easy team to play against at the moment. One just needs to mercilessly press Jorginho and properly mark Eden Hazard and the Chelsea rhythm and threat is considerably divided. Bournemouth did that to good effect and absolutely mauled Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium.

Possession just for the sake of it, unwillingness to adapt systems and a gaping hole in the defence have led Chelsea fans to begin to wonder if Sarri is really the man for the job.

If the Italian tactician refuses to adapt his team to the opposition and remains enshrined in his ways, it may cost Chelsea a place in the top four. United and Arsenal have closed the gap to them while Tottenham are pulling away from them.