Leaving Chelsea is my biggest regret — Sarri
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Ex-Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri || Image credit: Imago

Leaving Chelsea is my biggest regret — Sarri

Faruq Ibrahim 22:53 - 07.06.2024

Former Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri said thathe regrets his decision to leave Chelsea.

Italian manager Maurizio Sarri has revealed that leaving Chelsea was the biggest mistake of his career. The 65-year-old managed Chelsea in the 18/19 season, leading them to a Europa League triumph, before deciding to resign. 

What Sarri said 

Sarri, who recently resigned as head coach of Lazio, reminisced on his time at Chelsea as he expressed his regret over his decision to quit after one season. 

The former Napoli manager replaced his compatriot Antonio Conte at the London club, and after one season in which he led them to Europa League triumph, the EFL Cup final, and third place on the Premier League log, Sarri chose to resign, citing the need to move closer to his ageing parents in Italy.

Speaking to Sky Sports now, the former Empoli boss explained that the job insecurity that comes with working for a Roman Abramovich club contributed to his decision; however, he regrets the choice he made now, believing that he should have stayed in the Premier League.

Maurizio Sarri.
Maurizio Sarri.

"That was the most fundamental error in my career," Sarri told Sky Sport Italia. "We had everything required to remain, it’s a difficult club to work at where you probably don’t get to finish the second season, as practically nobody did in the Roman Abramovich era.

"At least I would’ve remained in the general Premier League situation. We had a good journey there, as the previous season the team finished fifth, then we were third behind Liverpool and Manchester City, who were above all the rest.

"We won the Europa League with 13 victories and lost the Carabao Cup Final on penalties to Manchester City after eliminating Liverpool and Tottenham, who that year had reached the Champions League Final.

"I made an enormous error that I should’ve avoided. The desire to return to Italy should’ve been inferior to the desire to stay in the Premier League, but that was not the case."

Sarri is currently out of work, but he has said that he is looking to return to coaching as quickly as possible.

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