LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri plans showdown talks with the club's hierarchy after next week's Europa League final to see if they want him to remain in charge next season.
The Italian's side recovered from a mid-season slump in time to secure Champions League football next season via a third-placed finish in the English Premier League, and could end the season with a trophy when they face Arsenal in Baku on May 29.
However, Sarri's style of football has not been universally embraced by the Chelsea fans during his first season in charge and rumours in his homeland have linked the former Napoli boss with the vacant managerial roles at Juventus and Roma.
"I will speak to the club as I want to see if they are happy with me or not," said Sarri on Wednesday (May 22). "I have two more years on my contract."
The Milan stock exchange does not appear to share Chelsea fans' reservations. Juventus shares rose 5.6 per cent on Wednesday afternoon following reports in the Italian press that the Serie A champions had been in contact with Sarri.
Juventus are looking for a manager after parting last week with Massimiliano Allegri, who won the Italian title in each of his five seasons in charge. Juventus shares, which dipped below €0.60 last May before Cristiano Ronaldo arrived, reached €1.46 on Wednesday.
Sarri insisted any decision on his future should not be dependent on the outcome of the Europa League final.
"If the situation is like this then I want to go immediately," he added. "Ten months of work and then I have to play everything in 90 minutes, that is not right. You are either happy about my work or not happy."
'Good to wonderful season'
Sarri, though, defended his record after guaranteeing the club's principal target for the campaign of a return to the Champions League and reaching two Cup finals.
"I think that we had a good season, with a lot of problems of course," he added.
"We finished third in the Premier League, final of League Cup, a very difficult competition, now we have the possibility to play the final of the Europa League.
"If we are able to win then it will become a wonderful season."
Arsenal's preparation for the final has been disrupted as midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has decided not to travel on safety grounds due to political tensions between his native Armenia and hosts Azerbaijan.
Supporters from both clubs also face huge logistical issues and expense in trying to attend the final in a city nearly 2,500 miles (4,025km) from London.
And Sarri joined Arsenal's condemnation of selecting Baku as the host city for such a prestigious final.
"The location is a big problem for our fans. I think it was better to be in another location," he said.
On Mkhitaryan's decision not to travel, he added: "Really disappointed for the situation, I would like to see him on the pitch.
"In a decision like this you have to respect the decision of the man. Not of the player, of the man."
Antoine Griezmann struck again as Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga by beating in-form Getafe 2-0 on Saturday.
Griezmann on target again as Atletico edge closer to Barca
Silverware matters most to Emery as Arsenal aim to win for missing Mkhitaryan It remains to be seen if Mkhitaryan's absence will handicap Arsenal on the field at the Baku Olympic Stadium, as
Silverware matters most to Emery as Arsenal aim to win for
Read the latest Granada stories, Vincent Kompany to donate season of pay to homeless on ITV News, videos, stories and all the latest Granada news s Homelessness Fund, and donates 15% of his
Vincent Kompany Will be Raising Money for Manchester's
If Spurs want to challenge for the title they must win when the play against them. Last weekend they failed to do so. it is not about the way Spiurs played or about their formation at Vicarage Road. Pochettino's team have had enough bodies in the midfield and they should have restricted Watford to fewer chances.
Tottenham's Pochettino comes away empty handed again
Football: Liverpool laying groundwork for sustained success, says Klopp Klopp applauds the fans as Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum and Fabinho celebrate at the end of a match. PHOTO: REUTERS
Liverpool laying groundwork for sustained success, says Klopp
Bologna players celebrate after scoring their side's first goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on May 20, 2019.
Bologna earn 'miracle' Serie A survival in six-goal Lazio
Eric Harrison, the former youth team coach of Manchester United's 'Class of 92', which included David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, has died aged 81, the club announced on Thursday. Harrison, who helped forge the fledgling careers of Beckham, Giggs,
Jürgen Klopp wants his European champions to "make the next step now and leave a big mark". UEFA Champions League - Klopp warns Europe: 'This is still only the start' - News the Reds had
Klopp warns Liverpool's rivals that Champions League glory is
Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne will stand trial for sexual assault in October after allegedly kissing a woman without consent on a train, a judge ruled on Tuesday. The 51-year-old ex
Ex-football star faces assault trial - gulf-times.com
Manchester City tear apart Liverpool's feeble defence to claim an emphatic victory over the 10-man visitors and move top of the Premier League. approach to the game, there must surely be an
Pep Guardiola wants perfect run-in as Manchester City close
Jürgen Klopp's pre-match prediction proved to be spot on - all good things do come in threes.And after the match he warned again: Liverpool's sixth UEFA Champions trophy is only the beginning under his watch. "It's like this is still only the start," he said. "This club is about winning.
'This is only the start', says Jürgen Klopp after Liverpool's
Italian World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was named coach of China on Friday, spearheading the ambitious country's attempts to become a footballing force at last. It was not immediately clear if the former Juventus and Real Madrid star will lead the team on a temporary or permanent basis -- Chinese media speculated that the upcoming
Italian legend Cannavaro named new coach of China
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich - Paulaner am Nockherberg, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Franck Ribery during the club's party a
Bayern have not yet tabled bid for Man City's Sane
Liverpool will be without forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino when they face Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final as they look to overturn a 3-0 deficit, manager
Liverpool's Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino ruled out of Barcelona
NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best running backs in NFL history. Take a look at how they stack up.
The Greatest Comeback in Football History | Super Bowl 51
0 comments:
Post a Comment