Maurizio Sarri explains why he won’t be using Antonio Conte’s preferred Chelsea formatio

Maurizio Sarri plans to stick with a back four. (Picture: Getty)

Maurizio Sarri insists he is not worried about Chelsea’s defensive performances this season and stated that he will not return to a back three.
Chelsea have collected maximum points from their opening two Premier League games of the season but they struggled to contain Arsenal’s attack at times last weekend.
After going 2-0 down early on, Arsenal pegged Chelsea back before half-time and had a couple of great chances to take the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alex Iwobi before, Marcos Alonso’s late goal handed Chelsea a 3-2 win.
The Blues face Newcastle at St James’ Park – where they haven’t won in their previous five visits – on Sunday and Sarri admitted it will take his players time to adapt to his defensive instructions.

Sarri has preferred a central defensive partnership of Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz. (Picture: Getty)

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s game, he said: ‘I work on it every week. I am not worried about the defensive phase. Usually when I arrive at a new club, I have problems for two-three months, I think it is normal.’
During Sarri’s first three matches in charge, Chelsea have lined up in a 4-3-3 system which differs from the standard 3-4-3 shape employed by his predecessor Antonio Conte.

When asked whether he would revert back to a three-man defence with wing-backs, Sarri responded: ‘No. I used five [defenders] years ago but it’s not my way.’
Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz appear to be Sarri’s first-choice central defenders as the pair have started together in all three of his competitive matches in charge.

Gary Cahill made one appearance for England at the World Cup. (Picture: Getty)

Gary Cahill has been the main casualty of the change, and the England defender is yet to feature under his new manager after returning to the club in early August following the World Cup.
Sarri insisted that Cahill is a part of his plans but reiterated his belief that the veteran would have to adapt his game to regain his starting place.
‘In this moment, for a defender it’s more difficult to play in my team after only 20 days of training,’ he said.
‘It’s easier I think for offensive players, but for defensive players it’s more difficult. In this moment he [Cahill] needs to have much more defensive training.’