In the end, it was a good result for Chelsea. A 1-1 draw against Manchester United keeps the Blues three points ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in sixth spot, while they also hold a two-point advantage over Arsenal in fifth.
With two games left to play, Chelsea know that their Champions League fate is in their own hands. Victories over Watford on Sunday and Leicester City on the final day of the campaign would guarantee a top-four finish, and a return of four points from those two encounters could also be enough given their superior goal difference.
None of the four contenders for the two remaining qualification spots have been convincing in recent weeks, and the sides who are ultimately successful will probably have limped over the line. Arsenal have lost their last three matches against Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester. Tottenham have been defeated in two of their last three, and only narrowly beat relegation-threatened Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 thanks to a late Christian Eriksen goal. Chelsea and Manchester United, meanwhile, are each without a win in three.
The hosts made a bright start at Old Trafford on Sunday and deservedly took the lead through Juan Mata in the 11th minute, but Chelsea grew stronger as the game wore on and, by the time of the final whistle, it was they who had fashioned the better chances. A draw was still a fair result, but perhaps the visitors could have emerged victorious had their centre-forward been in better form.
Gonzalo Higuain, it is fair to say, has not been overly impressive since joining Chelsea on loan from Juventus in January. The former Napoli marksman has scored four goals in 15 outings and has shown some quality touches at times, but his all-round play has been substandard. The former Argentina international’s lack of mobility has been a major issue, and he has struggled to lead the line effectively in most of his appearances. He was caught offside five times against United and struggled to get into the game throughout.
The Blues have already agreed a £31m to sign Higuain permanently from Juventus this summer, or a £15.5m fee for another season-long loan. All of their potential summer dealings are complicated by a two-window transfer ban for breaking FIFA rules on the signing of under-18 foreign players, although Chelsea are hoping to have that punishment reduced on appeal.
It may therefore be the case that the west Londoners have to either sign Higuain or see their centre-forward pool reduced by one ahead of next season. It is far from an ideal situation for a club who are also likely to see star man Eden Hazard depart for Real Madrid.
“In theory, yes,” Sarri replied when asked if he expected Higuain to still be at Stamford Bridge next term.
“It’s difficult to adapt to the Premier League. I think in the next season he will be able to score a lot. For a striker it is difficult to get used to the Premier League. I remember [Luis] Suarez at Liverpool in [his] first season only scored three goals, then 16, then 24.
“I don’t know [if a deal will happen]. I’m not in charge of the market, so I cannot answer these questions.
“The Premier League is wonderful and I want to remain in the Premier League,” he added on his own future.
“I want to remain at Chelsea, because the level is very, very high. The atmosphere in the stadiums is really fantastic. And so it’s a wonderful championship. I’d like to remain here.
“I am sure that, in two seasons, we will be able to close [the gap] to them [Liverpool and Manchester City]. But I am not sure that, in two seasons, we will be able to be better than them.
“When I arrived in Naples, Napoli were, in the table the season before, 24 points from Juventus. In the first season we arrived to nine points from Juventus, second season to six points, third season to four points.
“For us it was impossible to cover completely the gap, but at the end of the third season, we were very close to doing it.”
A top-four finish and potential Europa League triumph would represent an excellent first campaign at Chelsea for Sarri, although there is still room for improvement in 2019/20. That is true to an even greater extent for Higuain, who has failed to impress in his first few months at Stamford Bridge and increasingly looks like a striker past his best.
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