‘I left Chelsea after just one season and it was a huge mistake’

Maurizio Sarri has admitted leaving Chelsea after just one season in charge at Stamford Bridge was one of the biggest mistakes of his career.

In the summer of 2018, Sarri was brought to west London from Napoli to replace Antonio Conte, tasked with leading the Blues back to the summit of English football.  

Chelsea won the Europa League after thrashing Arsenal in the final under his guidance, also securing a top four finish in the Premier League. They also reached the League Cup final, infamous for an incredible bust-up between Sarri and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga who refused to be substituted.

Sarri left Chelsea at the end of the 2018-19 season, returning to Italy to become Juventus manager. It was also believed Sarri was eager to be nearer to his family, specifically his elderly parents.

Discussing his Stamford Bridge exit, Sarri explained his strained relationship with former Blues owner Roman Abramovich was an issue in his decision to leave, claiming the Russian oligarch ‘was not allowed to go to England’.

But five years on, Sarri regards his decision to leave as a ‘mistake’.

‘I could have stayed at Chelsea,’ Sarri said. ‘I wanted to come back to Italy because the situation at Chelsea was not easy. In that period Abramovich was not allowed to go to England. I only saw him at games abroad. We had some telephone calls but not very often.

‘My point of reference was only Marina [Granovskaia, Chelsea director during Sarri’s time at the club]. There wasn’t a sporting director so the situation was not so clear. So I wanted to come back to Italy but it was a mistake.

‘It would have been better to stay there. I was a little worried about the situation with Chelsea, the situation inside the club. It was not clear. I asked Marina if it was possible to go back to Italy and Marina asked for some money from Juventus to set me free.

‘They said if I wanted to stay at Chelsea it was possible. But at the end of the season with Chelsea it was a good experience and good results. We got third place in the Premier League table, reached the final of the Carabao Cup and won the Europa League. We played a lot of good matches.

‘Of course at times there were two or three disasters, like at Manchester against City, like at Bournemouth. Now I am ready to start again. I don’t know where at the moment. But me and the staff are ready.’

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