Mario Melchiots Chelsea verdict: Under-fire boss Maurizio Sarri told to stop being stubborn with NGolo Kante

Mario Melchiots Chelsea verdict: Under-fire boss Maurizio Sarri told to stop being stubborn with NGolo Kante
Maurizio Sarri has been urged to stop being stubborn with his Sarriball tactics and start playing NGolo Kante in his best position.Former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot says the midfielder would have made a huge difference in his natural holding role against Manchester City, and perhaps would have prevented the Blues 6-0 mauling at the Etihad Stadium.3

N’Golo Kante has endured a frustrating season for Chelsea

Kante earned a reputation as one of the worlds best defensive midfielders after winning back-to-back Premier League titles with Leicester City and Chelsea as well as the World Cup with France.But Sarri had other ideas when he was appointed at Stamford Bridge in the summerFans have been baffled by the boss decision to move Kante into a wider, more attacking position and sign his former Napoli lynchpin Jorginho to fill the holding role.It appeared to work well early in the season, with Chelsea starting the campaign by going 18 games unbeaten, but it has fallen apart in recent months, with the teams inconsistent form and defensive issues seeing them drop out of the top four.3

Sarri is really struggling at Chelsea at the moment

And Melchiot insists its time Sarri conceded he was wrong and started playing Kante where he has the biggest impact.Kante is arguably one of the best holding midfielders in the world, the former centre-back told Mondays Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.He wasnt part of Frances World Cup-winning team just by jogging along, he was a vital player in that team.He came from Leicester to Chelsea because he did his job really well, but now hes playing in a different role and every time he gets on the ball youre looking at him to do something creativelyBut thats not his game! You dont want him to play him like that.Its like Chelsea are sometimes playing with a man less, because creativity is not his strength.3

Jorginho has taken Kante’s place as Chelsea’s midfield lynchpin, but he has been criticised for his performances

I know hes scored a few goals this season, but look at the stuff hes doing when he gets the ball. Sometimes he turns back when he really needs to take the ball up the field and take someone on.Thats what the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, guys who change the game going forward, do. But Kante is the kind of player who changes the game in the centre, winning the ball back and making sure the team is strong.With Jorginho playing in that role, with the ball he looks OK, but what does he do when he hasnt got the ball? How does he get a grip on the game? Im not sure he is the man who, like Kante, can put his foot in the game and say, come on guys, were going to win this.On the 6-0 humiliation at Man City, Melchiot added: The game was over after 20 minutes, it was incredible.I felt Chelsea were struggling as soon as they came out.I was watching a game where, at 4-0 down, the players were not even trying to get back into the game and at half-time the coach doesnt come up with the solution.For me, thats bad.

---

Paul Scholes has been invited in for a chat by Manchester United interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after quitting Oldham by text message just 31 days into the job. I'll be there for Scholes
Paul Scholes: Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
footballnote.com/paul-scholes-manchester-united-manager-ole-gunnar-solskjaer-has-invited-former-team-mate-for-a-chat-following-shock-oldham-exit/
Paul Scholes has been invited for a chat by his former Manchester United team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following his shock exit as Oldham manager. Scholes left the League Two side on Thursday, just 31 days after the 44-year-old agreed to take charge of the club he has supported since his youth.
Who Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has invited to training

---

Christian Eriksen transfer: I want to try something new, says Tottenham midfielder amid Real Madrid interest. Eriksen, who has only one year left on his contract at White Hart Lane, has been

---

Celtic 2-1 Rangers: Alfredo Morelos accepts fine after

---

Fantasy Premier League tips: Transfer advice for Gameweek 26, including Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham stars. By DEDS NEWS Anthony Martial (Manchester
Fantasy Premier League tips: Transfer advice including

---

Bayern Munich have agreed to meet Chelsea's asking price for Callum Hudson-Odoi by submitting a fresh bid of £35 million. According to Sky Sports, Bayern Munich have finally agreed to come to
Chelsea news live: No Wolves bid for Abraham, what Pulisic's

---

Liverpool will play catch up with Manchester City once again on Wednesday when they travel to Burnley for their latest Premier League fixture.. The Reds were made to wait until the last seconds of
Premier League: Liverpool v Burnley - Live - BBC Sport

---

Callum Hudson-Odoi wants guarantees over his role next season before agreeing to sign a new Chelsea contract, reports claim. The 18-year-old is thought to be on the verge of penning a new five-year deal with the club.
Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi offered new contract and

---

Football will largely be the same and our grandchildren will look back on these threads while smiling and shaking their heads. They will look back on this like we look back on 1950s/60s when space travel was beginning and imagined a Mars colony in 50 years.
What football will look like in the future - 17776

---

TROY DEENEY will avoid a formal punishment from the Football Association over his goal celebration in the 4-1 victory over Chelsea on Monday night. Deeney broke the deadlock from the penalty spot but courted controversy when he appeared to make an offensive one-fingered gesture towards the Vicarage Road crowd.
Deeney unapologetic about goal celebration in Watford win

---

Tottenham Hotspur have given the fans an update on the recovery from injury of attacker Heung-Min Son. The 25-year-old needed surgery after fracturing his arm while playing for South Korea in June and missed Tottenham's pre-season tour of the USA last month.

---

The all-time Premier League table is a cumulative record of all match results, points and goals of every team that has played in the Premier League since its inception in 1992. The table that follows is accurate as of the end of the 2018-19 season.
Top Premier League stats of the 2018-2019 season, from Opta

---

Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar has received a three match ban after he hit a Rennes fan in the aftermath of their defeat in the French cup final. Rennes won the game on penalties. The Brazilian had scored PSG's second goal of the game at the Stade de France with little over 20 minutes played on
Neymar handed three-game ban for Rennes fan assault - AS.com

---

A three-horse title race is taking place at the top of the table with Norwich City, Leeds United and Sheffield United separated by just a handful of points - and one of those sides will also miss out on automatic promotion.
Norwich City 2019/20 Premier League odds released after promotion

---

Abdoulaye Doucoure 'going to leave Watford' with Hornets aware of his ambitions to play for Champions League club Written by: fpnews Posted on: January 14, 2019 Abdoulaye Doucoure has admitted he is 'going to leave Watford' amid reports linking the French midfielder with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Abdoulaye Doucoure 'going to leave Watford' with Hornets

---