Sarri: Chelsea Job Difficult Than Napoli

By Harry Morgan

Maurizio Sarri claims he has a difficult task managing Chelsea than Carlo Ancellotti has, succeeding him at Napoli.

Sarri replaced fellow Italian Antonio Conte at Chelsea from Napoli, and the 59-year-old has made a remarkable start with the Stamford Bridge outfit by winning all four opening games of the 2018/19 Premier League season.

Ancellotti, on the other hand, came from behind to beat Lazio and AC Millan before losing 3-0 to Sampdoria, and Sarri believes succeeding a coach who won the Premier League and the FA Cup is more difficult than replacing a coach who won no silverware.

“I won nothing at Napoli,” reports The Standard. “Conte, on the other hand, won here and it’s difficult to take his place.”

 “What is the hardest thing after moving to Chelsea? I know less about the teams I face and the opponents. In the beginning, to understand it was not so simple.”

Sarri admits to enjoying the atmosphere at the stadia he has played in England, so far, and the friendly that exists between supporters across the divide.

“Here it is totally different. It is an absolute party. It is a pleasure to arrive in the stadiums and see the fans with different shirts take a beer together. I sign autographs for the fans of the opposing team on the sidelines, before and after the match. There are games with so much intensity, physicality. The English way is a different football from the Italian one, played in extraordinary stadiums.”

The Chelsea manager admits to having challenges with life in England, but is, nonetheless, enjoying his stay and has no regrets switching base.

“How do I see Italy now I live in London? Close up, full of problems. But when we are far away, there is a bit of nostalgia and something is always missing, like the food, although I’m getting used to meat and salmon here.”