Sarri on regret at quitting Chelsea & why he can’t quit addiction to fags

THERE ARE two habits Maurizio Sarri can't stand: cigarettes and his love of English football.

The hugely experienced Italian manager deeply regrets the decision to walk away from Chelsea after just one season. And he wants to make things right.

Despite leading the club to the Europa League title, a top four finish and a Wembley final, chain smoker Sarri 'panicked' and headed home for safety.

The gradual collapse of former owner Roman Abamovich's deteriorating relationship with the British government was behind his request to leave just when he should have been negotiating a new contract.

Sarri is still puffing away as he talks exclusively to SunSport about his unfinished business with the Premier League. And most importantly: whether he would pack cigarettes, because the stadiums here are non-smoking

In response to that question he stated, “No.”

He then goes into detail about why he felt he had to leave Chelsea despite winning a European trophy in his only season.

Russian Abramovich had his visa for Great Britain revoked. Technical director Michael Emenalo had quit the year before Sarri arrived.

Transfer guru Marina Granovskaia had to juggle different roles – and that scared Sarri.

He said: “I could have stayed at Chelsea.

“I wanted to go back to Italy because the situation at Chelsea was not easy. During that period, Abramovich was not allowed to go to England. I only saw him at matches abroad. We had a few phone calls, but not very often.

“My point of reference was only Marina. There was no sporting director, so the situation was not so clear. So I wanted to come back to Italy, but it was a mistake.

“It would have been better to stay there. I was a bit worried about the situation at Chelsea, the situation within the club. It wasn't clear.

“I asked Marina if it was possible to go back to Italy and Marina asked for some money from Juventus to release me.

“They said if I wanted to stay at Chelsea, that was possible. But at the end of the season at Chelsea it was a good experience and good results.

“We finished third in the Premier League, reached the Carabao Cup final and won the Europa League. We played a lot of good games.

“Of course sometimes there were two or three disasters, like at Manchester against City, like at Bournemouth.

“Now I'm ready to start again. I don't know where at the moment. But I and the staff are ready.”

Sarri faced an uphill battle to convince Chelsea fans that his possession-based philosophy, or 'Sarriball' as it has become known, suited the blood and thunder of the Premier League.

His team were beaten 6-0 at Manchester City and 4-0 by lowly Bournemouth during his only year in charge. But there is no arguing about the end result.

Sarri left Chelsea and won Serie A with Juventus the following season. Then a proud second place with Lazio in 2023.

He said: “I performed at the highest level. We won the Scudetta with Juve, but it's not the same as the Premier League.

“England is the highest level for players, for teams, for clubs, for stadiums, for fans. For everything. So I would like to come back.

“If I had a team and had the opportunity to coach a team at the same level, I think I could do even better.

“If Chelsea could have gotten into the top four then my football must have been suitable. The disasters at Manchester and Bournemouth probably made the fans dissatisfied with my situation and my football. But I think it was a feeling for a few months, not more.”

Two Premier League managers have already been sacked this season: Erik ten Hag at Manchester United and Steve Cooper at Leicester.

It is at this time of year that top flying clubs get nervous.

Julen Lopetegui at West Ham and Russell Martin at Southampton are likely looking over their shoulders.

At Chelsea, Sarri used a terrace next to his office on the first floor of the training ground to smoke.

His only requirements of any new club are an outdoor space and potential.

Sarri said: “It is very important to get 101 percent from your team. This is more important than winning a cup, a trophy or the Premier League.

“To get 101 percent out of the players, the team as a whole. It's better than winning. Real Madrid can win with 98 percent of the team's potential. The real victory is achieving 101 percent of potential.

“I wanted to leave Chelsea, but only because of a specific situation. Not because of England.

“I want to become a coach again.”