Eusebio Di Francesco expected a very different season but reveals that he currently ‘studies English’ and remains ‘open to any kind of new experience’.
After helping establish Sassuolo in Serie A, the currently unemployed coach took charge of Roma in in 2017-18 but was replaced by Claudio Ranieri in March 2019 after struggling to build on a semi-final in the Champions League from his first year at the Olimpico.
Eusebio Di Francesco expected a very different season but reveals that he currently ‘studies English’ and remains ‘open to any kind of new experience’.
After helping establish Sassuolo in Serie A, the currently unemployed coach took charge of Roma in in 2017-18 but was replaced by Claudio Ranieri in March 2019 after struggling to build on a semi-final in the Champions League from his first year at the Olimpico.
He was brought in at Sampdoria last summer but was again replaced by Ranieri after a difficult start to life at Marassi and has been without a job since October.
During the current lockdown, Di Francesco revealed that he has been studying English to widen his horizon after having restricted his experience to Italy so far.
“I study English and speak with my grandson on Skype,” he told Gazzetta della Modena about life in quarantine. “I have to be open to any kind of experience. Even whilst I was at Sassuolo and in recent time, I had offers from the Premier League.
“Also, from Turkey and some national teams, even if I always made other decisions.”
Di Francesco brought the Neroverdi to Serie A and helped them reach the group stage of the Europa League in 2016-17, but the club went through two coaches before appointing their current boss Roberto De Zerbi.
Di Francesco has praised the work of De Zerbi, who, despite being relegated with Benevento, did enough to convince the Emilian club he deserved a chance to remain in Serie A.
“I appreciate him, he is a coach with a precise idea of football,” Di Francesco said. “You can see that there is hard work behind Sassuolo’s performances and the explosion of some individuals.
“Like [Jeremie] Boga, who I like very much.”