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Mateo Kovacic: Why the Croatian Epitomises Chelsea's Creative Problems Under Maurizio Sarri

Cast your mind back to November 2018. Ahh, rosier times. Heading into the month's international break, where England eventually triumphed 2-1 against Croatia in the defining UEFA Nations League A Group 4 clash to reach the semi-finals (Gareth <3), Chelsea were unbeaten in 12 Premier League outings and four points off top spot.

Maurizio Sarri was a record-breaking Premier League manager (because of said unbeaten start) and Eden Hazard was the best player on the planet. The only problems, the scale of which is almost unbearable to think of in such tumultuously testing times, were the Blues' profligacy up front and their proclivity to lose concentration at the back.