Maurizio Sarri opens up on his departure from Chelsea – as Italian coach reveals why he left Stamford Bridge after just one season

Former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has reflected on his departure from the club after just one season.

Sarri, 65, is a hugely respected Italian coach who has led 18 different clubs in his homeland, but his one-season spell at Chelsea remains his only assignment abroad. 

The 65-year-old took over the Blues in July 2018, replacing Antonio Conte, but departed at the end of the 2018-19 campaign following less than a year in the role.

Sarri guided Chelsea to a third place finish, while they won the Europa League and lost on penalties to Man City in the Carabao Cup final – in a game that is most remembered for Kepa Arrizabalaga refusing his manager’s instructions to come off for Willy Caballero before the shootout. 

In total, the Italian won 39 of his 63 games in charge of the club, but often came under criticism for his playing style and moved to Juventus in June 2019.

Sarri spent just over a year with the Old Lady – who paid compensation to Chelsea – before he recently left Lazio after almost three years in charge.

Sarri was appointed in the summer of 2018, but departed following less than a year in the role

The Italian guided Chelsea to third in the Premier League and they won the Europa League

And, more than five years after his departure, Sarri has opened up on his exit from Stamford Bridge and admits he feels regret at his decision.  

‘I could have stayed at Chelsea,’ he told The Sun. ‘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). 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.’

The period Sarri refers to is when then-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich faced uncertainty over his immigration status, with his renewed British visa application withdrawn in the summer of 2018.

The Blues were also at risk of receiving a transfer ban in relation to alleged rule breaches involving academy players over several seasons, with a two-window punishment subsequently imposed in November 2019, adding to the uncertainty Sarri faced. 

Meanwhile, when Sarri departed, Granovskaia had further hinted that family reasons also played a part.

‘In talks we had following the Europa League final, Maurizio made it clear how strongly he desired to return to his native country, explaining that his reasons for wanting to return to work in Italy were significant,’ she explained at the time.

Sarri admitted he regretted his departure, but claimed he was unsure over Chelsea’s situation

Sarri famously clashed with Kepa Arrizabalaga (not pictured) in the Carabao Cup final in February 2019 when he refused his manager’s instructions to be replaced by Willy Caballero (R)

‘He also believed it important to be nearer his family, and for the well-being of his elderly parents he felt he needed to live closer to them at this point. 

‘Maurizio leaves Chelsea with thanks from us all for the work he and his assistants did during the season he spent as our head coach, and for winning the Europa League, guiding us to another cup final and a third-place finish in the Premier League.’

Sarri would go onto win Serie A with Juventus, but he was sacked when they were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage.

And, despite his abrupt exit from Stamford Bridge, the Italian admitted he still had positive memories of his time in England.

‘I asked Marina if it was possible to go back to Italy and Marina asked for some money from Juventus to set me free,’ he explained. 

‘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.’