Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has stated that Chelsea will need to change its tactics if his side fancies a win in Sunday's blockbuster clash with Manchester City. A 3-0 win for Manchester United over Fulham on Saturday saw the Blues momentarily demoted to the fifth position.
Having been dubbed by some persons as a potential season-defining encounter, Chelsea is seeking to seal a back-to-back win over Pep Guardiola's side. The Stamford Bridge outfit ran away with a 2-0 in December after Eden Hazard was deployed in the 'false nine' role. The Belgian bagged two assists with N'Golo Kante and David Luiz ending the game with a goal apiece.
Ahead of the fixture, Sarri has hinted at tweaking his game plan although the recent arrival of Gonzalo Higuain could change the face of things.
"At the moment the situation is different. We have another striker [Higuain instead of Morata]," Sarri told reporters at Cobham Training Centre as per Goal.
"We can make another decision. But I don't know; maybe we will play with a 'false nine'. I have to decide.
"The situation is not like the other match, so I can decide something different or have a 'false nine'. I expect Guardiola's team want to always be in control of the match, always in possession of the ball and they're able to do it. So, it's a very difficult match.
"We are used to having the ball and possession so, on Sunday, it will be very different. Maybe we have to defend lower. [In December] they were able to press us in our half. It wasn't a choice. It was a necessity. So, I think on Sunday it will be the same.
"You know very well that the midfield of Manchester City is one of the best in the world, not only Fernandinho but also Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, David Silva. Technically, they're the best midfield in Europe at the moment, so it will be really very difficult to be in control of the match.
"We will try to play our football, but if they are able to play their football, of course, you have to stay lower. In the first match, we were lucky to score. Then, especially the first 20, 25 minutes of the second half, they gave us spaces, so it was a little bit easier."
A defeat for Chelsea will send Manchester City back to the top of the Premiership after Liverpool regained top spot with Saturday's 3-0 win over Bournemouth.
