Maurizio Sarri backs Ross Barkley to become key player for National team

Maurizio Sarri has backed Ross Barkley to become an integral part of the England squad after he starred in Chelsea’s 3-0 success at Southampton. Midfielder Barkley celebrated his recall to the national team at St Mary’s by setting up Eden Hazard’s opener and then scoring his first Blues goal. Barkley and in-form team-mate Hazard were the standout performers on the south coast and the latter laid on a stoppage-time third for substitute Alvaro Morata. The former Everton player was left out of Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad in the summer following a series of injury issues and won the last of his 22 caps in May 2016. Head coach Sarri has been impressed with Barkley’s desire to make up for lost time and tipped him for a bright future heading into the international break. Related Chelsea’s Ross Barkley confident he can fit bill as England search for new Paul Gascoigne Maurizio Sarri touts ‘genius’ Eden Hazard’s potential to become the best player in the world “Today he has played really well. I am really happy with him because from the beginning he has improved, day by day, week by week, match by match,” said the Italian. “I am very happy for him, for the goal, for the national team. Click here to Join the whatsapp group for all CHELSEA NEWS “He had a very serious injury in the last season, now he’s improving every day but I think the best will come for him. “Potentially, he is a great player because he has quality, very important qualities from the physical point of view, from the technical point of view, now he’s improving from the tactical point of view. “I think he will become very important in England and for the England national team.” Sarri, who replaced compatriot Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge in the summer, saw his unbeaten start continue on Sunday as Chelsea remain among the Premier League pace-setters.

The division’s top-scorer Hazard slotted in his seventh league strike of the season with half an hour played after Barkley dispossessed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and slipped him through. Barkley then tapped home after Olivier Giroud directed a Willian free-kick back across goal, before Spaniard Morata finished a flowing passing move after being played in by Hazard. Sarri felt the final goal was the best of his short tenure and epitomised the slick style of play he is trying to implement. “Something like this, we moved the ball very quick, I think one touch, at the maximum two touches, and then we arrived at the goal so easy,” he said. “I think it’s my football.” Asked if it was the finest goal scored since he arrived in England, he added: “Sure, of course, because I can see my way of football in this situation.” Defeat for Southampton continued their miserable recent run in front of their own fans. Saints have won just one of their last 15 league games at home, meaning Chelsea and Leicester have each won more matches at St Mary’s in that time. Striker Danny Ings missed a glorious chance to open the scoring for the hosts, while Nathan Redmond rattled the crossbar at 2-0. Saints manager Mark Hughes admitted his team struggled to impose themselves on the game. “(It was a) difficult afternoon for us, we didn’t start with the intensity we talked about,” said Hughes. “We were too passive, allowed them to get comfortable possession too often in our own half. “We were able to create a good chance with Danny – clearly if we score first then it may well have been a different type of game for us. “Credit to Chelsea, I thought they were excellent on the day, they look very strong, very assured in possession. “With the talent they’ve got at the top end of the pitch, it’s difficult to contain them for 90 minutes.” Eden Hazard continued his sensational start to the season as unbeaten Chelsea inflicted more St Mary’s misery on Southampton. The Premier League’s top-scorer coolly converted his seventh strike of the campaign with half an hour played to put the Blues on course for a deserved 3-0 success on the south coast. Ross Barkley poked home to double the advantage following Willian’s second-half free-kick, before Hazard laid on a stoppage-time third for substitute Alvaro Morata. Victory keeps Maurizio Sarri’s men among the pace-setters, while defeat for Southampton leaves them with just one home league win since last November. Saints were second best for the majority of Sunday’s clash, although Danny Ings squandered an excellent opportunity to fire his side ahead and Nathan Redmond struck the crossbar late on.

Despite avoiding a competitive defeat since Italian Sarri replaced compatriot Antonio Conte during the summer, the Blues have wobbled slightly in recent weeks. They dropped two points in the London derby with West Ham a fortnight ago, conceded a late equaliser against title rivals Liverpool last weekend, and laboured past Hungarian champions Vidi on Thursday. After making multiple changes for that Europa League clash, Sarri reverted back to the team held by Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, albeit replacing Mateo Kovacic with England midfielder Barkley.

Chelsea began in confident fashion and almost went ahead in fortuitous fashion when Willian’s shot deflected off Wesley Hoedt and looped on to the top of the bar. Southampton’s home support has been starved of recent success, witnessing just four league wins from the previous 27 games at St Mary’s. The hosts were pinned back for much of the first half, although Manolo Gabbiadini forced Chelsea’s £71.6million goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to get his gloves dirty with a curling effort from range.
Chelsea, unfamiliar in a light blue strip paired with fluorescent orange socks, were denied a penalty when Olivier Giroud went down under a challenge from Dutch defender Hoedt, before edging ahead minutes later. Saints midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was caught dawdling on the ball by the recalled Barkley and he slipped through Hazard to emphatically slot past Alex McCarthy. The home side started the second period in the ascendancy but were again wasteful in front of goal. Unmarked former Chelsea defender Bertrand volleyed over at the back post from Hojbjerg’s cross, while Ings directed an effort straight at Kepa. The visitors took advantage of the profligacy, doubling the advantage with 57 minutes played after Hazard was tripped by Ings.

Willian delivered the resultant free-kick deep into the area and Giroud – on his 200th Premier League appearance – acrobatically fired across goal for Barkley to tap in his first goal for the west London club. Saints winger Redmond threatened to set up a nervy finish when he rattled the woodwork, while Blues striker Morata would have added a third but for a smart stop from McCarthy. The Spaniard was not to be denied a goal though and coolly lifted Hazard’s pass over McCarthy in stoppage time following a prolonged period of possession to seal his side’s sixth league victory of the season.