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Chelsea and Manchester City battle it out in the final of the Carabao Cup on Sunday. Both teams have met twice before this season and have one win each. However, the recent humiliation of Chelsea by City at the Etihad was a glowing marker of the standards set by the reigning Premier League champions.
The game also marks the battle between two managers - good friends - who like to keep the ball. Both Maurizio Sarri and Pep Guardiola prefer possession-based football, however, their contrasting fortunes indicate a significant difference between the two sides.
While City have been exceptionally good once again this season, "Sarri-ball" has failed to inspire Chelsea of late.
A lot is at stake for both sides on Sunday. City would like to retain their trophy and stamp their authority in the tournament, while Sarri knows that owing to recent results, a Silverware could secure his position at the club and turn Chelsea's season around.
The Italian will be aware that winning on Sunday will be extremely tough, but here are 5 tactics that he could use to get the better of his old friend.
#5 Keep a close eye on Fernandinho
The Brazilian is the heart of Pep Guardiola's side. While he is primarily a defensive midfielder, Fernandinho brings a lot more to this City side and he is their unsung hero on the pitch.
His primary responsibility is to shield his defence and this is something he is extremely good at. Even though Fernandinho is not the quickest across the field, his positioning and ability to anticipate the opponent's next move helps him deal with almost everything that is thrown at him.
He covers for his centre-backs as well as his fullbacks with equal efficiency. Without him, this City side looks vulnerable and shaky in the centre.
However, there is another side to the Brazilian that is often overlooked. He is a fantastic passer of the ball and can pick out his teammates with brilliantly weighted long balls as well.
As such, the key to stopping City is by keeping a close watch on Fernandinho. Sarri could deploy a man marker or could ask Kante to stay close to the Brazilian. If Fernandinho is successfully marked out of the game, Chelsea will enhance their chances of winning.
#4 Team Spirit
This is the third time that Maurizio Sarri will face Pep Guardiola this season. While City humiliated Chelsea 6-0 during their last outing, Sarri did win the first meeting of the season, by a 2-0 margin.
As such, Sarri should ensure that his team goes into the tie in the best of spirits. City have been defeated 5 times this season and in 3 of those games, they had taken an early lead but still lost. As such, City will almost always score, but Chelsea must have the tenacity and the belief in themselves that they can get even.
The London club is going through tough times right now. While results have not gone in their favour, they have also been slapped with a transfer ban. As such, they go into this game as the underdogs, but Sarri should remember that City were not expected to lose any of the 5 games where they were defeated.
Being an underdog against this City side does have its advantages and if Sarri is successful in instilling that belief in his team, they have every chance to succeed.
#3 Counter Attacking Strategy
In the home game in December, Chelsea registered 8 shots, with 4 of them on target and scored 2 goals. In the recent 0-6 defeat at the hands of City, the London club had 12 shots, with only 4 of them on target and failed to score. On the other hand, City had 15 shots, of which 9 were on target and they scored 6!
As such, Sarri's side will have to be extremely efficient in front of goal. The only way Chelsea can get the better of City would be by taking their chances well.
Pep Guardiola's adherence to a free-flowing, attacking brand of football almost always opens up spaces on the counter. Because Pep likes to keep a high line and also throws people forward, it opens up spaces for fast attackers who can run at City's defences.
As such, Sarri would have to set his team up to soak up the pressure and play on the counter-attack. He could support Hazard with attacking players and could even look to young Hudson-Odoi to affect the game at some point.
#2 Using Kante judiciously
Sarri's use of N'golo Kante has drawn a lot of criticism this season. While the Frenchman looked good in an attacking role early in the season, that effect eventually died down.
His industry and tenacity is an example for every footballer in the world, however, he works best when he is in the thick of the action. Sarri's tactics often isolate the Frenchman and keep him away from the ball, which does not work in Chelsea's favour.
In the win against City, it was Kante who broke away and scored the decisive first goal. He is very good while doing that, and the beauty of the Frenchman is that he can be both a defensive screen as well as be the first man forward in the counter.
Maurizio Sarri immediately needs to re-evaluate his use of Kante. Maybe he could start the Frenchman in a deeper role alongside Jorginho or maybe he could use a double pivot. The outcome of the game on Sunday depends a lot on how Sarri decides to use Kante because the Frenchman has the abilities to break City on his own.
#1 Off the ball discipline - pressing
The secret to winning against City is off the ball discipline. The opposition has to accept that they shall see a lot less of the ball, they will have to soak pressure and they will have to defend with their lives.
Pep Guardiola's side play at a very high tempo and tire their opponents by wave after wave of attack. They can be relentless and at the first sign of lapse of concentration from the defending side, they pounce and kill the game.
As such, Chelsea will have to be very disciplined off the ball and it is not something that they have been good at recently. Only a team who matches City's tempo can dare to win the game.
Palace and Leicester City did it, and so did Newcastle. Even Chelsea, when they were full of confidence and vigour, got the better of the current Champions.
If Sarri can manage to keep his team disciplined without the ball and set his players up to press for the entire game, they will give themselves a very good chance of winning their first silverware of the season.
