What a difference a change of manager can make to a player and in fact a squad.

Maurizio Sarri’s impact at Chelsea since taking over from fellow Italian coach Antonio Conte has been pretty phenomenal so far.

Quite a few of The Blues team are looking like different players under Sarri.

In recent weeks, Ross Barkley has been sensational and he now looks to be that creative midfield star that everyone in England was hoping for.

In his last three Premier League appearances for Chelsea, Barkley has managed to grab three goals and create three assists. His performances are giving his manager a headache on who to play in midfield.

Sarri has to pick three from Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Cesc Fabregas, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Danny Drinkwater and Barkley.

His preferred three seemed to be Jorginho, Kovacic and Kante as they’ve started the baulk of the league games. But both Barkley and Loftus-Cheek are beginning to stake a claim with their recent impressive outings.

What Barkley has over the others is that he’s got the ability to directly impact on games. He can get goals from distance and he can also create glorious chances due to his vision and ability to deliver excellent passes and crosses into dangerous positions.

His passing has been terrific and efficient this term, Ross has so far got a 92% passing success rate in his nine Premier League appearances. Only Oliver Giroud has made more league assists this season for the Blues, while star man Eden Hazard has made the same as Barkley.

The more the twenty-four year old midfielder plays the more confident he looks in a Chelsea shirt. He now looks like he belongs in the same team as Hazard and Co. The former Everton man looks to be a more mature performer under Maurizio.

Chelsea have missed a midfielder that could make late, excellent runs and finish off chances since Blues legend Frank Lampard left the club back in 2014.

If Ross Barkley can start regularly for the Stamford Bridge club, then maybe he can be the one that fills Lampard’s boots. He certainly has the qualities to become that type of player for The Blues.

When his team were missing Hazard for the Burnley clash, it was Barkley who stepped up and became the chief architect as they triumphed in a 4-0 win.

His performance was praised by his gaffer:

“Now he’s improving the physical condition. He’s a very good player from a technical point of view.

“He’s improved the defensive phase. Now I think Ross is complete.”

So who misses out if Barkely regularly gets the nod to start? 

I think Mateo Kovacic is a great player but the fact remains that the midfielder isn’t contracted to Chelsea and his loan deal with Real Madrid doesn’t include a clause to sign the Croat on a permanent basis. Would it not make more sense to play and develop the player that’s actually yours? Plus I think Barkley is more direct when going forward, which ultimately means more goals for the team.

I’m also not sure that Kante’s position is safe. Yes he’s an absolute diamond when it comes to winning the ball back for the team but under the new manager N’Golo is being asked to attack more and that doesn’t seem to come naturally for the French World Cup winner. So maybe you could have two of Barkley, Kovacic or Ruben Loftus-Cheek playing either side of midfield dictator Jorginho.

It will be interesting to see if England’s Ross Barkley can continue his recent fine form and if Maurizio Sarri continues to start him. I believe he could be a creative star if continually given the opportunities to shine!

Posted on November 1st, 2018 by scott
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