Sarri: I’ll bring fun back to Chelsea
Maurizio Sarri has vowed to bring the fun back to Chelsea’s football as the new manager took charge of his first training session.
Sarri was appointed on Saturday after the club parted company with antonio Conte, who has released a statement via the League Managers’ association wishing luck to his successor at Stamford Bridge.
‘i want to play my football,’ said Sarri, the 59-year-old who forged a reputation for fluent and attractive play in his last job with Napoli. ‘i want to enjoy myself and probably to win something.
‘The players have to enjoy themselves. First of all, i hope the fans can enjoy the team. i want to bring enjoyment to the fans, the fans have to be proud of the team. one hundred per cent hard work and 90 per cent fun.
‘it is impossible in my job to promise something else but i will surely give all in my possession to win something with Chelsea.’
The message will be well received inside the camp because players and staff had become worn down by Conte’s bad moods and fiery temper over the last 12 months.
Moreover, the new boss claimed he could impose his own style of play with just ‘one or two adjustments’ as he gave his first interview in a Chelsea shirt to the club’s official app ‘The 5th Stand’.
Sarri said: ‘in Naples i was very lucky to find my players adapted to my way of football. They were strong as players and strong from a human point of view.
‘i was lucky to transport my idea of football on to the pitch, with the quality of these players.
‘Chelsea is a good team; the problem is that in England there is another five or six very good teams. With one or two adjustments, we can try to play my football.’
His first signing is Jorginho, the Brazil-born italy international midfielder who has followed him from Napoli for a fee of £57million.
‘Jorginho is not a physical player,’ said the Chelsea boss. ‘He is a technical player. But the most important quality is that he is very quick in the mind. So he has the ability to move the ball very quickly.’
Sarri has a background in amateur football and worked as a banker before his first professional appointment at Pescara in 2005.
He came to prominence when he took Empoli up into Serie a and then avoided relegation — feats which prompted a move to Napoli, his hometown club.
after three years at the San Paolo he was tempted to London by the chance to test himself against the world’s best coaches.
‘Five years ago i was in italy in Serie B,’ he said. ‘ Chelsea is one of the most important clubs in the most important championship in Europe. in the Premier League there are all the most important coaches in Europe, maybe in the world.
‘it will be for me very exciting to play against Guardiola, to play against Pochettino, to play against Mourinho, to play against Klopp and all the others.’
Sarri conducted his interview in good English but said: ‘My English is not very good. i started English more than 30 years ago so in this long time unfortunately i have lost everything.’
Conte, fired with one year remaining on his £9m-a-year contract, released a statement yesterday which read: ‘i would like to thank all of my friends at Chelsea for their hard work and support over the past two seasons which enabled us to win the Premier League and Fa Cup together.
‘To the players, whose talent and commitment was so important to our successes, i thank them for everything.
‘it has been a pleasure working with them every day.
‘To my staff, who always worked so hard, i must say thank you and well done for their professionalism and dedication throughout.
‘it was fantastic for me to be able to share my emotions, passion and enthusiasm throughout two unforgettable seasons with these amazing Chelsea supporters, who will always stay in my heart.
‘i hope Chelsea will continue to be successful and i wish everyone well for next season.’
lDerBy manager Frank lampard is confident of signing Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount on loan.
Mount, 19, was one of four young players invited by Gareth Southgate to train with the senior squad before the World Cup and has been in demand. he was player of the tournament as england won the Under 19 euros last year.