MX23RW : Friday, June 14 07:29:28| >> :120:22890:22890:

Maurizio Sarri already preparing for his next season with Chelsea

Maurizio Sarri already preparing for his next season with Chelsea
© Reuters
The Italian head coach was under extreme scrutiny last month.

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is confident he will be at Stamford Bridge next season and has already begun his pre-season preparations.

The Italian came under heavy pressure last month after Premier League thrashings at Bournemouth and Manchester City were followed by a disappointing FA Cup exit at home to Manchester United.

Sarri’s side have since produced a positive performance in their penalty shoot-out defeat to City in the Carabao Cup final and won successive league games against London rivals Tottenham and Fulham.

Maurizio Sarri has overseen back-to-back Premier League wins
Maurizio Sarri has overseen back-to-back Premier League wins (Steven Paston/PA)

Asked about his job security, the former Napoli coach, who moved to Stamford Bridge on a three-year contract last summer, replied: “It’s not a big problem. The problem is the results. All the rest is not important at this moment.

“I want to win for the team, for the club, not for me. It’s not important.

“I’m confident. I was confident in the past, and I am confident now of course.

“We were talking about the problem of the next pre-season. So we were trying to organise in the best way the next pre-season.

“But I want to think only to our performances and our results. Nothing else.

“It’s not important if I’m here next season.”

Chelsea host Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie on Thursday evening before Wolves travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Sarri is considering making changes to his team for the Kiev game due to tiredness in his squad.

Cesar Azpilicueta and his Chelsea team-mates enjoy themselves in training
Cesar Azpilicueta and his Chelsea team-mates enjoy themselves in training (Steven Paston/PA)

He echoed the concerns of Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino about English clubs being at a disadvantage in European competitions due to punishing schedules.

“I think the Premier League could do something more for the teams involved in European competitions,” he said.

“If you play in the Europa League in Italy, after the match away you can ask to play on Monday.

“One day more to rest. I think that’s really very important.

“For example, when we will play in the Premier League after 62 or 63 hours after the match against Dynamo Kiev. I think it’s too early.”

The Blues sit sixth in the top flight, two points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, with a game in hand.

Winning the Europa League would guarantee the club return to the Champions League next season, but Sarri is still hopeful of qualifying for the premier competition with a top-four finish.

“I think we can gain the spot in the Champions League in the Premier League,” said Sarri.

“We are fighting. We are only two points away, at the moment, and have to play one match (in hand).

“But the Europa League is a very important competition, the second in Europe, an important trophy with a spot for the Champions League.

“So it’s a very important target for us.”

Sarri, who has no injury concerns ahead of the two-legged tie which concludes in Kiev next week, expects a tough test from the Ukrainian runners-up.

“The two matches will be very difficult. They are a good team, a physical team and a young team, very dangerous on the counter-attacks with two very fast wingers,” he said.

“So we need two very good performances, I think. Our target is to play the same football at home and away.”

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Ed Elliot, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'f98dbb50-b8d5-44b0-a832-38a45362a9af');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Maurizio Sarri already preparing for his next season with Chelsea'});

ID:352515: cacheID:352515:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:17745:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Read more about Maurizio Sarri Football
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, June 14
 
8pm
Saturday, June 15
 
5pm
 
8pm
Sunday, June 16
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Monday, June 17
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 18
 
5pm
Wednesday, June 19
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Thursday, June 20
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Group Stage
Spain
vs.
Italy
Friday, June 21
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 22
 
8pm
Sunday, June 23
 
8pm
Monday, June 24
 
8pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 25
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Wednesday, June 26
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 29
Sunday, June 30
Monday, July 1
Tuesday, July 2
Friday, July 5
Saturday, July 6
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany00000
2 Hungary Hungary00000
3 Scotland flag Scotland00000
4 Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Albania national flag Albania00000
2 Croatia Croatia00000
3 Italy Italy00000
4 Spain Spain00000

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria00000
2 France France00000
3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
4 Poland Poland00000

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belgium Belgium00000
2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!