Chelsea take on Manchester City in the EFL Cup final on Sunday and this game could very well be the do or die scenario for Maurizio Sarri.
The Blues are currently sixth on the Premier League table and they have also been knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United.
And in such a crisis situation if they fail to beat Man City as well, then Sarri should immediately start packing his bags.
Speaking about Chelsea’s problems earlier this week, Paul Merson claimed that the former Napoli boss will need to get rid of his rigidity if he wishes to succeed at Stamford Bridge.
‘You have to give yourself a chance,’ Merson said(as reported).
‘In my opinion, they have three players who can defend – Azpilicueta, Rudiger and Kante. The rest can’t defend.
‘Don’t go and ask them to play a closing-down game when none of them can defend. Just try and get them back into a shape and work from there and make it difficult for City.
‘I am very interested in Sunday to see if he is prepared to change.
‘If you are not prepared to change and it goes wrong I don’t see there’s any point in sticking with him as you are never going to gain on Manchester City.’
But Merson has also laid question marks on Frank Lampard and Zinedine Zidane both of whom are in line to become the next Chelsea manager.
‘I think with Zidane, how long would that last? Another year or one and a half years at the most?’ Merson added.
‘Lampard was a legend at Chelsea. If you are going to have a five-year plan then I would say get Frank, but if you are not going to do that – and Chelsea are renowned for changing every year and a half or two years – then it’s going to end in tears.
‘I don’t think he is ready at the moment. I would have no problem if you said it’s going to be a five-year plan and then go with Frank and see what happens, but I don’t think Zidane.
‘He would be another short-term plan and Chelsea need stability.
‘They have won trophies and it has worked, but sooner or later it isn’t going to work and teams are getting better as Chelsea are changing.’
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