Boss plans for future at Blues
MAURIZIO SARRI is already planning for next season with Chelsea in the biggest hint so far that he could yet cling on to his job.
The Blues boss was a dead man walking two weeks ago with the club hierarchy discussing his future following a woeful run of results.
But Sarri insists he is now confident he is staying and has already held talks about Chelsea’s pre-season plans to tour Japan in July.
Ahead of tonight’s Europa League last-16 tie with Dynamo Kiev, Sarri said: “I am confident otherwise I won’t be able to do my work. I have to think this if I want to do my job.
Past
“It’s not a big problem. The problem are the results.
“All the rest is not important at this moment. I want to win for the team, for the club, not for me.
“I’m confident. I was confident in the past and I am confident now of course. But I want to think only to our performances and our results. Nothing else.”
An improved Carabao Cup Final performance against Manchester City and wins over Fulham and Tottenham have brought Sarri some breathing space. But his future remains on a knife-edge, with Champions League qualification via a topfour finish or by winning the Europa League the minimum requirement.
Sarri also joined Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino in pleading for help with the schedule from English football’s authorities.
Since the beginning of last month Chelsea have had to play a match every three or four days.
They have cut down on training and recovery time and they were running on empty by the end of last Sunday’s game at Fulham.
The Italian said: “We had good rotation but probably we were tired. Some players physically and all the team mentally.
“In this moment we played six, seven or eight matches more than the other European teams, and eight matches mean two months with a match during the week. Two months without any training.
“So I think that, for an English team, it’s very difficult to be competitive in Europe in March or April. Really very, very difficult.
“I think the Premier League could do something more for the teams involved in European competitions.
“If you play in the Europa League in Italy, after the match away you can ask to play on Monday. One day more to rest. I think that’s really very important.
“For example, we will play in the Premier League 62 or 63 hours after the match against Dynamo Kiev. I think it’s too early.”
Blues centre-back David Luiz insists the team are still fully behind Sarri and his ideas, adding: “It was the decision of the club to change the style of football.
“For many years everybody said Chelsea were winning but never controlled the game.
“Now we control the game and people say we won’t win! It’s about what we really believe.
“Every player believes in his philosophy and is giving 100 per cent to achieve our goals.”