I guess I should be happy with a 3-0 away win to kick off the season, but it’s very clear that “Sarri-ball” is going to take a while to settle in at Chelsea.
The problem isn’t so much the change to the system, but rather, do the Blues have the personnel to pull it off in its purist form?
The challenge was highlighted when Eden Hazard made a cameo appearance and it all started to click.
It takes premium quality players, with the power of superior passing, skill and movement to make the system effective.
With the likes of Alvaro Morata, Ross Barkley and Danny Drinkwater in the squad, the fast-pace, interlinking style coach Maurizio Sarri will try and impose is going to take more work.
As with Barcelona or Napoli, or Manchester City, or Liverpool, a single weak link can throw the proverbial spanner in the works and turn what could be great into something that just doesn’t snap into place.
Mateo Kovacic should provide cover for the abovementioned midfielders and the new Chelsea should start emerging within the next month or two.
There were glimpses of what that will look like, but Huddersfield were particularly bad on the day.
I was actually a bit worried at the lack of energy the Blues showed, despite not having to extend themselves ahead of a big one against Arsenal on the weekend.
As for the Gunners oh boy.
I guess they’ll be wondering if this is what they wished for.
Yes, again, first game of the season, but they look like any other side in the League.
There’s no Arsenal imprint, there’s crosses and long balls, and hacking out from the back, it looks very standard and I’ll be surprised if they compete at the top-end this season.
It appears that Wengerism is done and Sunday will have been a huge reality wake-up as City had enough good chances to whack them by four or five.
Riyad Mahrez looked in his element and will no doubt prove to be another great purchase for Pep.
City look the readiest for me, already settled in and will probably be the team to chase again this season.
I know Liverpool fans will argue that after shutting the Hammers out, dispatching them without getting into second gear. But despite the improvement squad-wise, I’m still not sure they have what it takes to make it their season.
Manchester United looked like United against Leicester, completely flattered by the scoreline, conceding possession and under pressure for long periods of the game.
Had it not been for the early penalty, an away win for the Foxes looked very likely.
It feels like there’s a lot of work to do at Old Trafford before Jose has his side anywhere near the type of outfit likely to challenge.
Oh, shoot, forgot Spurs again
Not quite sure what to say. How the hell chairman Daniel Levy didn’t add a couple of players, we’ll never know.
It really brings to mind the saying: “If you continue doing the same thing, how do you expect things to change?”
Sure, the first four or five games of the season have little bearing on the season, but it looks ominous.