MX23RW : Tuesday, December 11 12:08:01

Angry Sarri rounds on over-confident players after defeat to Wolves

Angry Sarri rounds on over-confident players after defeat to Wolves
© Reuters
Chelsea are 10 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City after their defeat at Molineux.

Angry Maurizio Sarri rounded on his over-confident Chelsea stars after their title hopes suffered another major blow with a 2-1 defeat at Wolves.

Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota struck in four second half minutes to stun the visitors who now sit 10 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek's deflected opener had put the visitors in control before they slipped to a second straight away defeat after gifting Wolves a way back.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea – Premier League – Molineux Stadium
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri was left frustrated by his side's defeat at Wolves (Nick Potts/PA)

Chelsea, who sit fourth, host leaders City on Saturday and Sarri was annoyed at their complacency.

"After this match we are less confident but maybe it's better because sometimes my players show me that they have too much confidence," said the boss, who made five changes.

"I am really very worried, not for the result but the fact that after the first goal we conceded we did not react very well. I am really very worried for this, not for the result.

"We played well for 55 minutes. After the goal for 1-1, which was an accident because we were in full control of the match, we were suddenly another team without the right distances and without our football.

"I don't know why. I don't think it depended on the changes, it depended on the mentality of the team.

"I saw a team without a reaction. You can lose a match but not without a reaction."

Sarri also conceded City are out of sight with his side battling for a Champions League spot.

He added: "Manchester City are in another category. We have to play and fight for the top four. It is a very difficult result for the top four."

Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, right, opened the scoring for Chelsea against Wolves (Nick Potts/PA)

Loftus-Cheek struck in the 18th minute when his effort hit Conor Coady and flew in.

Ryan Bennett's goal-saving tackle denied Willian in the first half and Alvaro Morata missed an excellent chance immediately after the break.

Wolves then turned the game in four second half minutes. Jimenez drilled through Kepa Arrizabalaga after 59 minutes before Jota tapped in at the far post from Matt Doherty's cross after Andreas Christensen and Willian gave the ball away.

It lifted Wolves up to 12th and was their first win for two months after five defeats in their previous six games.

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo said: "I think everybody enjoyed it – everybody from Wolves of course.

"It was a good performance and even in the first half we were pleased that we stayed organised and compact.

"When we got level I felt, and Molineux felt, we were back in the game.

"That is credit to the boys and the the crowd for how they were noisy and backed the team.

"We worked hard and got the result but we have a long way to go."


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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1613303462842
2Manchester CityMan City1613214593641
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs16120430161436
4Chelsea16104233132034
5Arsenal16104235201534
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd167542826226
7Everton166642319424
8Bournemouth167272526-123
9Leicester CityLeicester166462120122
10Wolverhampton WanderersWolves166461719-222
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham166372325-221
12Watford166372023-321
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166371922-321
14Cardiff CityCardiff1642101530-1514
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle163491322-913
16Crystal Palace1633101323-1012
17Burnley1633101532-1712
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield1624101027-1710
19Southampton161691330-179
20Fulham1623111640-249

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