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THERE ARE two habits that Maurizio Sarri cannot kick — cigarettes and his love of English football.
The vastly experienced Italian manager deeply regrets the decision to walk away from Chelsea after just one season. And he wants to put things right.
Despite guiding the club to the Europa League title, a top four finish and a Wembley final, chain-smoker Sarri ‘panicked’ and headed home for safety’s sake.
The gradual breakdown of former owner Roman Abamovich’s deteriorating relationship with the UK government was behind him asking to leave just when he should have been negotiating a new contract.
Sarri is still puffing away as he talks exclusively to SunSport about his unfinished business with the Premier League. And more importantly, whether he would pack up fags because stadiums over here are no-smoking arenas
In answer to that question, he declared: “No.”
He then goes into great depth detailing why he felt he had to leave Chelsea despite winning a European trophy in his one and only season.
Russian Abramovich had his UK visa revoked. Technical director Michael Emenalo had quit the year before Sarri arrived.
Transfer guru Marina Granovskaia was left juggling several roles – and it scared Sarri.
He said: “I could have stayed at Chelsea.
“It would have been better to stay there. I was a little worried about the situation with Chelsea, the situation inside the club. It was not clear.
“I asked Marina if it was possible to go back to Italy and Marina asked for some money from Juventus to set me free.
“They said if I wanted to stay at Chelsea it was possible. But at the end of the season with Chelsea it was a good experience and good results.
“We got third place in the Premier League table, reached the final of the Carabao Cup and won the Europa League. We played a lot of good matches.
“Of course at times there were two or three disasters, like at Manchester against City, like at Bournemouth.
“Now I am ready to start again. I don’t know where at the moment. But me and the staff are ready.”
Sarri faced an uphill battle to convince Chelsea fans that his possession-based philosophy, or ‘Sarriball’ as it has become known, suited the blood and thunder of the Premier League.
His team was trounced 6-0 at Manchester City and 4-0 by lowly Bournemouth during his sole year in charge. But there is no arguing with the end result.
Sarri left Chelsea and went on to win Serie A with Juventus the following season. Then a proud second-placed finish with Lazio in 2023.
He said: “I managed at the top level. We won the Scudetta with Juve but it is not the same as the Premier League.
“England is the top level for players, for teams, for clubs, for stadiums, for fans. For everything. So I’d like to come back.
“If I had a team and had the opportunity to be the coach of a team at the same level I think that I could do even better.
“If Chelsea were able to get into the top four then my football must have been suitable.
“Probably the disaster at Manchester and Bournemouth made the fans unhappy about my situation and my football. But I think it was a feeling for a couple of months, no more.” —Sun.
Online Reporter