Maurizio Sarri: I want to stay in Premier League after Chelsea

Sticking around: Maurizio Sarri likes English football
AP
Simon Johnson8 May 2019

Maurizio Sarri has added to the intrigue over his future at Chelsea by mentioning that he could manage another English club if he leaves Stamford Bridge this summer.

Sarri’s job at Chelsea remains uncertain despite leading to the club back into the Champions League after securing a top four finish.

Standard Sport revealed on Wednesday that Roma are willing to match his current £5million-a-year salary to bring the Italian to the Stadio Olimpico.

Sarri initially dismissed the idea of leaving Chelsea when asked during his pre-match press conference ahead of the Europa League semi-final tie against Eintracht Frankfurt.

In Pictures | Chelsea vs Watford | 05/05/19

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He said: “As I said in every press conference, I want to stay here. I like very much English football, the atmosphere in the stadiums. And so, if I can, I want to stay here. My target is to stay in English football at the moment.”

He was then asked whether that meant it was up to Chelsea whether he’d get to stay in the country or not. The 60-year-old, albeit with a bit of a laugh, replied: “I can try with another English club. I don't know (which one).”

Sarri signed a two-year contract with the option to extend it by another 12 months when appointed last July.

The minimum requirement set by the hierarchy was for Chelsea to get back in the Champions League via the League and they have done that with a game to spare.

He could also end up with the Europa League trophy. Chelsea are favourites to progress to the final having drawn the first leg of the semi-final at Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 last week.

Sarri said: “We reached the target (Champions League qualification) of the club and so we are really very happy with this.

“Now we have to play in another competition and the target is to reach the final – the first target – and the final target will be to win the competition.

“Our feeling is that we deserve to win a trophy, so it's a very important match, of course.

“We have to play to win, without managing the results. That's too dangerous (to do). It's not easy because we play a very dangerous team, as we saw in the first leg.

“They are very dynamic and aggressive in the defensive phase, and dangerous in the offensive phase especially when they find spaces on the counter-attack. So it's a dangerous match.”

Midfielder N’Golo Kante has been ruled out with a hamstring injury and would face a race to be fit for the final on May 29 should Chelsea get there.

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