MX23RW : Thursday, January 24 19:20:07

Luiz: We all believe in Sarri's vision for Chelsea

Luiz: We all believe in Sarri's vision for Chelsea
© Reuters
The gap between Chelsea in fourth place in the Premier League and Arsenal is now three points.

Chelsea defender David Luiz has stressed that he and his team-mates trust in boss Maurizio Sarri's philosophy and that "everybody is with" the Italian.

The Blues put in a disappointing performance as they were beaten 2-0 at Arsenal on Saturday.

The gap between Chelsea in fourth place in the Premier League and Arsenal, who rose to fifth, reduced to three points, and sixth-placed Manchester United are the same amount behind Sarri's men.

Arsenal v Chelsea – Premier League – Emirates Stadium
Maurizio Sarri laid into his Chelsea players after the defeat at Arsenal (Nick Potts/PA)

In his post-match press conference, an angry Sarri was critical of his players' mentality, accusing them of being "extremely difficult to motivate".

Luiz said the manager "was not happy" after the match "but nobody was happy, so it was normal."

And regarding the way Chelsea have been playing, he said: "It is our style, it is our philosophy.

"I think if you asked at the beginning of the season, 'can Chelsea keep the ball?' – you would have said no.

Chelsea v Nottingham Forest – Emirates FA Cup – Third Round – Stamford Bridge
David Luiz wants Chelsea to improve in the final third (John Walton/PA)

"And now we are able to do that, like the best teams in the world, but then we have (to) improve our last 25 metres."

The Brazil international added, when asked if it was harder to trust the philosophy when Chelsea lost: "It is part of the process, when you try to do something and this is inside your mind, if you believe in it you can arrive there.

"Because of the results if you start to change and change, you don't go anywhere.

"So this is our philosophy, I believe in it, I trust in it, so I just know we have to improve, like every team in the world.

"What Sarri (who took charge last summer) has done until now is unbelievable, amazing, because normally (for) a team to understand this philosophy needs one or two years, like Manchester City and Liverpool, who are playing very well with the ball now.

"What he has done has been amazing, so we have to try to improve the details now."

When then asked if some players were less sure now, Luiz said: "I don't think so, everybody is trusting his job and everybody is with him."

Chelsea, who are being linked with Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain, once again had Eden Hazard deployed as a 'false nine' on Saturday.

Gonzalo Higuain file photo
Could Gonzalo Higuain be on his way to Stamford Bridge? (Martin Rickett/PA)

They have won only two of their last five games in all competitions and failed to score in three of those.

Saturday's contest saw Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny score in the 14th and 39th minutes respectively.

Luiz said of the match at the Emirates Stadium: "The first 25 minutes we did not perform well, after that to control a team like Arsenal here with possession is never easy, especially in the second half we did that.

"But then after that possession and being more dangerous is two different things, so I think we had the possession but we still have to be more dangerous."

Luiz said the creation and conversion of chances was an area in which Chelsea "have to improve", and added: "When I say that I am not talking about the strikers, I am talking about the whole team.

"The offensive phase starts with (goalkeeper) Kepa (Arrizabalaga), and then with us the defenders, with everybody."


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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool23193154134160
2Manchester CityMan City23182362174556
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs23170648232551
4Chelsea23145440192147
5Arsenal23135548321644
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd23135546331344
7Watford239683232033
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves239592731-432
9Leicester CityLeicester2394102929031
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham2394103034-431
11Everton238693433130
12Bournemouth2393113342-930
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2375112532-726
14Crystal Palace2364132332-922
15Southampton2357112540-1522
16Burnley2364132343-2022
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2356121931-1221
18Cardiff CityCardiff2354141944-2519
19Fulham2335152151-3014
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2325161340-2711

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