Blues coach in further bother
Ianni wasn’t permitted in ‘technical area’
CHELSEA coach Marco Ianni faces further FA sanctions in the wake of the touchline bust-up with Jose Mourinho. The Manchester United boss was enraged at the way Ianni celebrated Ross Barkley’s stoppagetime equaliser in a 2-2 draw on Saturday.
That sparked a melee in the tunnel and among players.
The FA charged Ianni with improper conduct, but it has emerged that Ianni should not have been in the technical area. Premier League rules state clubs must inform them of the six backroom staff on the front row of the bench who can use the technical area.
As Ianni came from several rows back he was not one of those nominated ahead of the match.
The FA take encroachment into the technical area by unauthorised personnel seriously.
Ianni faces a hefty fine and also a potential ban from areas near Chelsea’s bench.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are prepared to back Maurizio Sarri after an impressive start to the season by signing a centre forward in January.
Mauro Icardi is top of the list but will be difficult to prise away from Inter Milan. Icardi has a release clause of £97.5million but it is not active until the summer Encroachment: Chelsea coach Marco Ianni and Inter are trying to tempt him into an improved deal.
Krzysztof Piatek of Genoa, however, is shaping up as a more realistic mid-season target.
Piatek, 23, only moved from Cracovia in Poland this year for £3.5m and has made a sensational start in Italy.
He has scored nine goals already in Serie A, four against Lecce in the Coppa Italia, and opened his account for Poland in only his second international. Genoa’s 1-1 draw against Juventus on Saturday was the first time Piatek had appeared for his new club without finding the net.
Sarri’s former club Napoli are among those to have declared an interest in the 23-year-old Pole and are prepared to pay £30m.
Genoa’s reaction was to insist Piatek is not for sale but this will not deter wealthy suitors if the goals continue to flow.
Chelsea are unbeaten in 12 competitive games under Sarri and are only two points behind pacesetters Liverpool and Manchester City after nine Premier League games. Sarri’s high-tempo brand of football has been well received and the players have adapted quickly to his system — with a glaring exception at centre forward.
Sarri wanted Gonzalo Higuain in the summer when the Argentine was leaving Juventus for AC Milan. He is a manager who likes to sign players who have worked with him in the past because he knows they can adapt to his tactical style.
Chelsea were not prepared to invest big money in 30-year-old Higuain without selling Alvaro Morata.
When there were no takers, it was hoped a change of manager might revive £65m Morata.
Sarri, however, has decided he prefers Olivier Giroud up front — even though the 32-year-old Frenchman has not found the net for his club since May.