Maurizio Sarri has said that his Chelsea side must improve defensively if they want to challenge for the title this season.
Chelsea are one of three teams to have their unbeaten start to the Premier League still intact, winning seven and drawing three of their opening ten games.
The Blues have adapted well to the Italian’s ‘Sarri-ball’ style of play on the attacking front, scoring 2.4 goals per game after ten rounds of league fixtures.
However, they are seemingly still coming to terms with the change from the back three, preferred by Antonio Conte, to a back four, and are offering up a number of chances to their opponents as a result.
Chelsea conceded two goals to Championship side Derby County in midweek, and with Crystal Palace up next on Sunday, Sarri said that having a frail defence is ‘dangerous’:
“In the last match, I have to say Derby played a very good match. We played well in the offensive phase, but a lot of mistakes in the defensive phase. It’s clear we need to improve,” Sarri said in his pre-match press conference.
“I am used to having problems like this in the first months. In Burnley I saw a very good performance in the defensive phase. Three days after I saw a lot of mistakes. It means we are a not a continuously solid team at the moment. It’s dangerous.”