Maurizio Sarri opens up about his future at Chelsea, after his team thrashed their London neighbours Arsenal 4-1 in Baku Azerbaijan to be crowned the 2019 Europa League champions, saying he deserves to stay after what they have achieved as a team this season.
Sarri who has been linked to a move back to Italy, as rumour has it that Juventus are ready to bring back the former Napoli manager to Italy, and even top his wages if eventually, he decides to leave Chelsea. But that seems to have changed, as the Italian manager in a press conference in Baku on Wednesday, said he loves to remain with Chelsea and given everything, he deserves to stay.
First, speaking about the Europa League final, and how his team managed to overpower Arsenal with a manager who has won more Europa League finals, Unai Emery. He said:
‘My feeling at the end of the first half was that the match was very difficult,’
‘It was our 64th match of the season and it was hot on the pitch, very difficult to play physically. My feeling from the bench was that we were trying to manage the result. At half-time, I asked my players to play with more courage, even if it meant risking to lose.
‘I wanted my team to move the ball better, and the players did it very well in the second half. We played very good football against a very difficult opponent, who are dangerous in the offensive phase and from counter-attacks. We played very good football and the match was good also for the fans I think.’
On winning his first trophy as a manager, Sarri said:
“I am very happy, but the front of the shirt is very important – the trophy is very important for the club.
‘The back of the shirt, the names of the players and the coach, is less important. Of course, the trophy is very important for us and for me. Our feeling was we deserved to win. After we went in trouble in January and February, we reacted.
‘At the end, we got the Champions League through the Premier League, which is not easy. We played a final in the League Cup and we qualified after beating the Champions League finalists Liverpool and Tottenham, and we lost by penalties the final against Man City.
‘In the Europa League we played 15 matches, we won 12 and drew three, so I think we deserve to win the Europa League.
‘I am very happy with my players, as I said yesterday. Something changed at the beginning of February. We lost 6-0 in Manchester against City but we started something different, so our feeling is we deserved to win.’
Sarri also commented on Eden Hazard and the talk about him leaving Chelsea.
‘As you know Hazard is a wonderful player, but you have to spend two or three months to understand him as a man. When you are able to understand him as a man, he is a wonderful man.
‘I knew Eden wanted to leave, but as I have said in every press conference, I wanted to respect his decision.’
On his future and what he wants from Chelsea, Sarri said:
‘I have to speak to my club. The season finished one hour ago so tomorrow I will speak to the club, like every club at the end of the season. We need to know what the club can do for me, what I can do better for the club. In a couple of days, we will decide, but I have a contract so at the moment we are talking about nothing.
‘I am lucky because I am at Chelsea, one of the best clubs in the best championship in the world. At the moment I am happy, but of course, I want to know if the club is happy and if we can improve. I think I deserve to stay but it’s only my opinion.’