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Maurizio Sarri to delay Chelsea crunch talks with Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois until eve of transfer window closing
Maurizio Sarri intends to delay crunch talks with Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois until just days before both the Premier League season starts and the transfer window closes so that he can personally sell them his Chelsea vision.
Belgium’s progress to the World Cup semi-finals means that two of his star players will not report back from their three-week holiday until Aug 6, but Sarri suspects that meaningful discussions can only be held by “looking them in the eyes”. Chelsea begin their league season against Huddersfield on Aug 11, while the transfer window for signing any potential replacements closes on Aug 9.
Both Courtois, who is out of contract next year, and Hazard, whose current deal runs until 2020, have suggested that they could leave and will be acutely aware of the widely reported interest from Real Madrid.
Sarri was unveiled on Wednesday by Chelsea following their 13th managerial change since 2004 and, in regularly using the word “fun” to outline his style, clearly also hopes that the experience of training with him could help the situation.
Asked if he would speak with Hazard and Courtois before they returned from holiday, Sarri said: “I don’t think so. The players you refer to are very high level players. I would like to keep them in my squad. But telephone calls without looking them in the eyes would not give them any certainty. I want to meet them face to face, talk to them and understand what the best thing will be to do for everyone. I would also like a player to come with me on the pitch for four or five days.
“I am much more a pitch manager than a general manager. I am one of the few managers who is bored by the transfer market. Our task is growing the players that we have.”
Of Hazard specifically, who has been offered a £300,000-a-week contract, Sarri said: “I think he is one of the top two or three European players. I would like to have fun in matches. I would obviously like to have fun during the week together with him. The child in each of us must be nurtured – that often makes us the best.”
Sarri has also told Chelsea that he would still like to improve his central midfield options. “I think a pinch of quality is lacking for a certain kind of play,” he said.
With chairman Bruce Buck and director Marina Granovskaia seated in the front row, Sarri’s first press conference as Chelsea manager was largely conducted in Italian and he was forced to clarify an answer in which he appeared to suggest that enjoyment came before winning.
He later stressed that the optimum aim was achieving both together. This relationship, though, between results and introducing a more expressive style has been a familiar narrative and friction for recent Chelsea managers.
Sarri stressed that it would take time to implement his ideals and is confident that those principles can result in a first trophy of a managerial career that peaked in Serie A with how Napoli so challenged Juventus.
“It will take time to build a slightly different way,” he said, before likening his philosophy to Pep Guardiola rather than Jose Mourinho and pointing out that even the “genius” Manchester City manager experienced difficulties in his first year in England.
Sarri also claimed not to have begun talks with Chelsea about replacing Antonio Conte until late last week – saying that he was “heartbroken” to leave Napoli - and was vague in explaining whether the club’s owner Roman Abramovich was personally involved.
“There are preparation difficulties and I will have to solve it together with my staff,” he said. “Our owner is an extremely reserved person, I don’t want to start a working relationship with him by speaking about private things.”
A big factor in Sarri’s desire to conduct this first press conference in Italian was the certain knowledge that he would be asked about the accusation from Roberto Mancini of a homophobic comment and being racist following a furious touchline row in 2016.
Sarri was also questioned about remarks towards a female journalist, whom he said he would not tell to **** off because she was a beautiful woman.
“People make mistakes; one of these mistakes was made when I was angry,” he said.
“Another was not even a mistake; it was a journalist with whom I shared jokes for three years. It was misconstrued. I think those who know me well cannot define me in this way.
“Homophobia, sexism, racism - absolutely not. When someone makes a mistake they must apologise. More than apologise, I hope you will have the chance to get to know me better.”
Sarri departed for Chelsea’s pre-season trip to Australia last night after finalising a backroom team that will include Gianfranco Zola as his assistant and Carlo Cudicini as a coach.
Any concerns over own future at Chelsea after so many sackings here?
If I was someone who always worried probably I would do another job. A job means risks, a lot of satisfaction. What happened in the past at Chelsea does not concern me. I am not afraid, I do not want to be afraid.
Sarri on looking forward to working with Hazard
I was not talking about fun in a press conference. I want to have fun on the pitch in the training sessions and have fun and win during the matches. Hazard is a very high level player. He's one of the top two or three European players. I would like to have fun during the week together with him and also Sunday's with him as that would mean very good results. I hope that I will manage to improve him, this is very difficult that he has reached a very high level.
What about Mourinho?
He's someone who has won everything many times repeatedly at different clubs. I think someone who has this track record does not need any description. We're talking about a top-level coach. My playing philosophy is closer to Guardiola but I appreciate both in the same way.
How would you describe yourself?
I would like everyone here and in the club and all the players to call me Maurizio. Just Maurizio.
What about your recent controversial comments?
People make mistakes. One of these mistakes were made when I was angry. Another was with a journalist whom I shared a joke for three years, it was misconstrued. These were mistakes, that's for sure. Those who know me know I'm not homophobic or a sexist. I do not have these kind of problems. I hope I can show you when I'm living here and working here. These mistakes were made and when someone makes a mistake they must apologise. Professional and ethical behaviour is more than appropriate.
Does Cahill have a future? What about the English spine?
A number of English players are on the squad list, there will be English players. I'm not interested in nationality. Players are neither English, French or any nationality. They are not young or old. They are stronger or not strong. With regards to Cahill, he can still give us a lot. In keeping the English players, something must be left. Juventus had the most Italians and it led to good results. We should respect a very long tradition.
What have you learnt from Pep about coming over to England?
Pep is a class act, a champion, a genuis. It's difficult to explain what his insights are. 100 points in the Premier League is an extraordinary feat and something that might not be repeated.
Any players you want to bring in?
I spoke with the football club, ideally I think a bit of quality is lacking in the midfield area. At the end of the transfer window, it will be for me to establish what sort of play will work with this squad. I can't come here and change 20 players. I can adapt to the squad and the players.
What will you introduce first?
I do not want to change anything. This has been one of the best clubs in England. I want to bring my philosophy on the pitch. The child in each of us must be nurtured because this is what makes us the best. Trying to create a play that has fun is the first thing to obtain.
How much time will you need at Chelsea?
It depends. In my previous experiences I needed a long time. Once I needed three months and last time because at Napoli we suffered in first three matches we then followed a positive path. I hope the quality of the players will allow me to build the results.
How far away is team from your football philosophy and did you speak to Conte?
I don't want to be influenced by anyone. Antonio has reached incredible results here and elsewhere. He's an extraordinary manager. Clearly, I play in a slightly different way so it will take time for the squad. This is a post World Cup time so players still need to come back and need to build a different way of playing. All good things that Antonio did must be left, they should not be changed. It's also true that in today's football, these are the timelines so it's important to know how to impose one's own football philosophy shorter than the past.
Sarri on leaving Italy
I have a wonderful memory of Napoli. I will always love the people there. I was heartbroken. Over the next few years we will overcome this.
Sarri continues with fun theme
Football can be entertaining or not, much depends on the players. A good manager if he has strong players, there has to be a lot of physicality. This depends on the squad. I think if the team has fun, the fans have fun too. This is very important too. There is the material objectives but we must start by having fun.
Sarri on previous Chelsea managers
My goal is to have fun as long as I'm here and to be competitive in all competitions until the end. My personal objective is to have fun. You need to have fun while you're doing your job. I managed to do that last year.
Sarri on Hazard and Courtois futures
Clearly, we would always like to keep all the strongest players. This is what any manager wants to do. But then we will have to see how the transfer goes over the next few days. I want to clarify that I feel more like a pitch manager than a general manager. I think that I am one of the few managers who is bored by the transfer market. I don't want to talk about it and I'm not that interested in it. It's about growing the players that we have.
Sarri now switches to Italian
How is Premier League different to Serie A?
For me, it's a difficult challenge but a fascinating one. I know it will be difficult. Here we have the strongest coaches in the world and the strongest players. I know this will be extremely difficult. I want to have this experience also based on my mistakes. The PL is different to Serie A because it is the strongest. Serie A is a tactically difficult league. I need to have fun in order to do well. Over the last year something changed in the Premier. It is not a typically English squad in terms of playing, but I know this will be difficult.
Here he is - speaking in English
It's a pleasure to be here in London, to be here in England. It's a pleasure to be here in the Premier League, I am very happy to be here in Chelsea. I have to say sorry to everybody as my English is not so good. I don't want to say anything wrong today so I prefer to answer my questions in Italian today. I hope to be able to do it in a few weeks in English.
The burning issues Sarri needs to address
Our deputy news correspondent Jeremy Wilson has been looking at Sarri's in-tray at Chelsea. Here's a snippet:
Sarri’s recent history with Napoli suggests a change of system to four rather than three at the back. Chelsea’s centre-backs have plenty of experience in this formation but there will be a considerable challenge at full-back for Cesar Azpilicueta, who played out of position on the left under Jose Mourinho, and Marcos Alonso or Victor Moses to adapt to.
Jorginho has been recruited to function as a midfield playmaker alongside Kante, prompting questions over how other senior central midfielders – notably Cesc Fabregas, Ross Barkley, Danny Drinkwater and Tiemoue Bakayoko – might be used.
Welcome to the new guv'nor
It's that time of year again as Chelsea welcome the latest occupant of their seemingly very, very hotseat with Maurizio Sarri becoming the 11th managerial appointment of owner Roman Abramovich in 14 years at Stamford Bridge.
At least the Italian will be bringing an exciting brand of football to a corner of west London which ticked the biggest box for Abramovich which may at least afford him of a settling in period if results aren't instantaneous.
You could forgive Sarri for feeling a touch of déjà vu. It's the second time in his career the 59-year-old has replaced an outgoing Antonio Conte - and first time round it wasn't a successful experience.
Sarri stepped into Conte's shoes at Arezzo in Serie B during the 2006-07 season. The former Napoli manager lasted just four and half months before he was axed and Conte was reinstalled. That Groundhog Day scenario seems highly unlikely, but sometimes logic goes out of the window when it comes to Abramovich.
We're expecting Sarri to begin his press conference from around 2pm where, among other things he's also likely to address the futures of Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois.
Comments made by the pair recently suggested they had a foot on a plane headed for Real Madrid and Sarri faces a tall order to retain their services going forward.
Sarri, meanwhile, has just 22 days left in this transfer window to fine tune his squad with the August 9 deadline closing two days before the start of the season.
Jorginho has become the club's only signing of the summer so far. The midfielder signed a five-year contract to team up with his former manager only last week.
