New Chelsea Coach Maurizio Sarri admits he was “heartbroken” to leave Napoli – “there were mistakes on both sides”.
The tactician was wildly popular with the San Paolo crowd, with his ‘Sarrismo’ brand of football taking the Partenopei to 91 points last season, even though they couldn’t win the Scudetto.
He fell out with President Aurelio De Laurentiis though, who appointed Carlo Ancelotti in his stead shortly after the season finished.
New Chelsea Coach Maurizio Sarri admits he was “heartbroken” to leave Napoli – “there were mistakes on both sides”.
The tactician was wildly popular with the San Paolo crowd, with his ‘Sarrismo’ brand of football taking the Partenopei to 91 points last season, even though they couldn’t win the Scudetto.
He fell out with President Aurelio De Laurentiis though, who appointed Carlo Ancelotti in his stead shortly after the season finished.
“I have a wonderful memory of Napoli,” Sarri said at his Chelsea presentation today.
“I love the people there and I will always love them. If we parted on bad terms with the club and the President then I think mistakes were made on both sides.
“Maybe the President misinterpreted some silences of mine, these were the uncertainties of someone who was torn, thinking it might be time to go.
“But I was heartbroken, and I hope in the coming years all of this can be overcome.”
Sarri replaces Antonio Conte, and was asked if he’s spoken to his predecessor.
“I don’t want to be influenced by anything or anyone, or someone who has seen things from a certain point of view at a certain time.
“Antonio got extraordinary results here, he’s a fantastic Coach, but I play in a slightly different way so it’ll take a little time for the squad. Obviously it’s a post-World Cup period too so some of the players are still to come back.
“All the good things Antonio left behind should be kept, they shouldn’t be changed, but it’s also true that it’s very important to know how to impose one’s own football philosophy in a shorter time frame.”