Former Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri, has recently confessed that his decision to leave the Blues after just one season in 2019/20 was a 'mistake'. Despite having an impressive tenure at Chelsea, which included lifting the Europa League title and finishing third in the Premier League, Sarri's departure for Juventus in 2020 left many fans puzzled.
Sarri's stint at Chelsea was marked by success but also controversy. His style of football, dubbed 'Sarri-ball' during his time with Napoli, failed to win over many Chelsea fans. This unique approach to the game led to an inconsistent period during his season with the Blues. The team suffered heavy defeats against Manchester City (6-0) and Bournemouth (4-0), yet they managed to lift the Europa League trophy under his guidance.
Despite these ups and downs, when Sarri decided to leave for Juventus, he received well wishes from Chelsea. Frank Lampard was brought in as a replacement amidst a transfer ban handed down on the club.
Reflecting on past decisions
In an interview recently, Sarri opened up about his decision to depart from Stamford Bridge. He admitted that leaving Chelsea was indeed a mistake on his part.
Former Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri, said:
"I could have stayed at Chelsea, I wanted to come back to Italy because the situation at Chelsea was not easy. My point of reference was only Marina. 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."
The 65-year-old Italian manager has since had stints at Juventus and Lazio before leaving earlier this year. Despite winning Serie A title during his time at Juventus, he still believes it was wrong for him to leave Chelsea when he did.
Looking back at his time with the Blues fondly despite some rocky moments, Sarri said: “We got third place in the Premier League table reached final of Carabao Cup and won Europa League," adding "We played a lot of good matches."
What’s next for Maurizio Sarri?
As for what the future holds, Sarri is ready for a return to management and has not ruled out a return to England. However, with Chelsea currently performing well under fellow Italian Enzo Maresca, it seems unlikely that we will see Sarri back at Stamford Bridge in the home dugout anytime soon. Nevertheless, he could be set for a return in the away seat sooner rather than later.
Maurizio Sarri's admission of regret over leaving Chelsea offers an intriguing insight into his managerial career and decision-making process. His openness about past mistakes and readiness to move forward suggest that he still has much to offer in football management.
