SARRI AIMS TO AVOID THE CUT
Blues chief chops hair after losing
MAURIZIO SARRI is hoping to avert any more hair losses.
The Chelsea boss was looking razor sharp yesterday after revealing he cuts his hair after every defeat.
Superstitious Sarri responded to Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg loss to Tottenham with a trip to the barbers to whip off his hair and beard.
It is not unusual for Chelsea bosses to face the chop after a run of defeats, so the Italian joked that he is hoping to have shoulder-length hair during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Sarri, who turned 59 on Thursday, said: “No [the haircut is not for my birthday].
“It is because when I lose a match I cut my hair usually, that is my tradition. For five years I have been doing that.
“I hope in the future that I come with my hair here like [translator] Simonetta,” he added, pointing to the bottom of his back.
Sarri also raised a few eyebrows when he claimed Chelsea are better than England.
He admitted to disliking international football because of the lack of time coaches get to work with their players.
Asked if that would help his Blues get the better of Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions he said: “I think so. Why not? Why could we win?
“Because I think our level is not less than the England national team. We can draw, we can lose and we can win.”
Impossible
Sarri opened up on his views on international football after being asked about VAR, which was a success at the World Cup in Russia but caused controversy in Chelsea’s midweek match against Spurs at Wembley.
He said: “I didn’t see a match in the World Cup. I don’t like the national team, because there isn’t anything to learn.
“It is impossible to arrange a team very well in 30 days.
“Every team in the World Cup will lose against the top-level club teams in every match.”
Sarri accused Bayern Munich of disrespecting Chelsea by going public with their interest in Callum HudsonOdoi.
Bayern are onto their fourth bid for the teenage winger, whose contract expires in 2020.
Ahead of Chelsea’s tea-time clash with Newcastle Sarri said: “It is not professional because they are talking about a player under contract, so they didn’t respect our club.”
Blues midefielder Cesc Fabregas last night completed his move to Monaco. The Spaniard has joined on a three-and-a-half-year deal, reuniting with ex-Arsenal pal Thierry Henry. RAFA BENITEZ admits he’s putting his own reputation on the line by staying at Newcastle.
The Spaniard has come in for criticism in recent days for his perceived pessimism, safety-first tactics and his attitude to the FA Cup.
But the Newcastle boss insists he’s not responsible for the air of negativity hanging over St James’ Park.
Mike Ashley’s failure to back him has gradually forced him to temper his ambitions and right now, avoiding a second relegation in three years is his sole aim.
He said: “I wanted to come to England to stay close to my family and then this club was an opportunity to be one of the top 10. That was my view.
“I have had teams and agents talking with more money than here but still I want to do something here. I want to stay in England, I’m close to my family, the fans are fantastic so you try to do something properly.
Massive
“It’s a challenge but it’s a risk. We are losing games and near the bottom of the table. For this massive city to be in a relegation battle again, it’s a pity.”
Benitez claims that far from being a pessimist, he is a realist and believes that Newcastle face more pressure than their rivals.
He has been stung by criticism since fielding an understrength team against Blackburn in the FA Cup but that won’t prevent him doing so again in Tuesday night’s replay at Ewood Park.
“If you talk about the other teams at the bottom, they are not as big as Newcastle,” he added. “A massive club with 52,000 fans at every game and sometimes 9,000 when we go away.
“The reality is we have to compete in a division when we cannot compete with Bournemouth who are spending money.”
His depleted Magpies head to Chelsea with an entire midfield missing. Benitez insists they’re going to Stamford Bridge in search of a third away win. He added: “Am I happy going into every game saying, ‘Can we get a point, can we get three?’. No, but I have to do it.”