24 hours in pictures, 12 November 2024
Maurizio Sarri says the departed Cesc Fabregas needs to be replaced at Chelsea. AFP/File/Glyn KIRK
Sarri said the 31-year-old Spanish World Cup-winning midfielder, who left for Ligue 1 strugglers Monaco last Friday, would have been a natural replacement for Jorginho.
The Italian international — a lynchpin of Sarri’s midfield this season — lost possession on several occasions against Newcastle.
“After 20 minutes he lost a lot of balls. It’s unusual and I think he was in trouble,” said Sarri.
“Maybe he was tired, I don’t know. But if Fabregas was on the bench I think that in the second half he would have been on the pitch instead of Jorginho.”
Sarri is keen to recruit an experienced midfielder as back-up to Jorginho, who has displaced N’Golo Kante from the pivotal central role, but also praised the potential of 18-year-old Welsh international Ethan Ampadu.
“In the future, maybe,” the Italian replied when asked about Ampadu’s prospects of filling the back-up spot.
“Playing as a central midfielder in our team is not easy.
“We need to try and try and try in training. But I think he is able to do it.”
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.