MX23RW : Thursday, December 19 12:39:25| >> :120:53458:53458:

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:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Read more about Maurizio Sarri Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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!