Chelsea are having a better season than Arsenal, insists Sarri

Posted Monday, February 25, 2019 by squawka.com

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has stressed that his side are having a better season in comparison to top-four chasers Arsenal.

The Blues face Manchester City on Sunday afternoon in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Which London team is best? Five things you need to know...

1. Chelsea are sixth in the Premier League having struggled for results across the past few weeks.

2. Meanwhile, Arsenal are fourth as they aim to return to the Champions League in Unai Emery's first season in charge at the Emirates.

3. Both sides are in the Europa League quarter-finals having where Arsenal will face Rennes and Chelsea face Dynamo Kiev.

4. The Blues have a real chance of silverware in the Carabao Cup but have to get past reigning champions Manchester City.

5. Earlier in the season, Arsenal went on an impressive 22-match unbeaten run.

Speaking ahead of their Carabao Cup final appearance against Pep Guardiola's impressive City side, Sarri – who has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks – believes that Chelsea's season is far from being defined as a "disaster" and compared his side's fortunes to that of their London rivals Arsenal.

Prior to Arsenal's win over Southampton, Sarri said: "It's important to win the final. It's very important for us, we have to find confidence.

"We are in the first final of the season and one point off the [Premier League] top four.

"Arsenal's season is good but we're doing a little bit better because we are in the final, and our season is a disaster? I am not able to understand.

"I want to remind you that in the last two seasons this team had 70 points, not 100. In the summer, we changed everything. It is not easy."

The pressure is on Sarri

Joining the club in the summer following the departure of former Blues boss and Premier League winner Antonio Conte, Sarri was tasked with improving Chelsea's fortunes as quickly as possible.

A lightning quick start to life in the Premier League saw Chelsea sit near the summit of the Premier League alongside both Liverpool and Manchester City.

However, unlike their Premier League rivals, they soon fell foul to poor form and slipped outside the top four spaces behind both United and Arsenal.

In order for Sarri to keep his place in the Chelsea dugout, he will need to turn things around as soon as possible at Stamford Bridge, starting with Sunday's Carabao Cup final against City.

A successful Europa League campaign and a top-four finish in the Premier League would get Sarri another season but that seems unlikely going by their current form.