Former Chelsea star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes his former club need to pursue at least another striker if they are to push for the Premier League title during the second half of the season. The Blues have made a splendid start to the top-flight season with 28 points from their opening 12 matches but they are still four points adrift of league leaders Manchester City.
“For me they [Chelsea] still have a gap to close on Man City, but they are improving and if they can keep on improving they can hopefully catch them. [Sarri] has changed the way they play totally. They now play more in the defensive third of the opposition. They have the ball 60 or 70 per cent of the time – that was totally different last year. You see smiles on the players’ faces again and they’re playing attractive, attacking football.”
Chelsea had an issue with the frontline with both Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud misfiring during the opening months of the campaign but the former has upped his form since the start of October. The Spain international has contributed a tally of five goals in the last seven matches he has featured for the Blues and he appears to have cemented the centre-forward position at the moment ahead of Giroud.
The Blues return from the international break with a tricky London derby on the road to Tottenham Hotspur and the game is certain to test their resolve, given their defence has looked vulnerable against teams, who have come with an attack-minded approach. Sarri’s side are currently one of three clubs including Manchester City and Liverpool, who remain unbeaten through the ongoing Premier League season.