According to a recent report by Goal.com, AS Roma are eager to recruit Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri after Antonio Conte turned down the opportunity to take over as the new manager at the Stadio Olimpico. The same source has also mentioned that the Pensioners had previously held discussions with England manager Gareth Southgate’s current assistant Steve Holland about the prospect of taking over the West London club temporarily.
However, in a recent interview (via Goal.com), Sarri revealed his desire to stay at Stamford Bridge and said, “English football is different.
“The Premier League is wonderful. I want to remain in the Premier League and I want to remain at Chelsea because the level is very high.
“The atmosphere in the stadiums is really fantastic. It is a wonderful championship and I would like to remain here.”
What Does It All Mean?
Hence, a move to AS Roma could happen if Chelsea pushes the Italian head coach out the door. However, at the moment, it seems unlikely that he would take up the Roma job voluntarily if it presented itself.
Sarri’s Spell At Chelsea So Far Seems To Have Its Ups and Downs
The West London club’s fans might share a divided opinion on the former Napoli manager, but the fact remains that Sarri successfully steered the club to a top 4 finish which has ensured them UEFA Champions League football for the next campaign. He has also guided his team towards the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League as the Pensioners are currently in the driver’s seat to make it to the final after securing a 1-1 draw in the first leg away at Eintracht Frankfurt last week.
The Italian head coach has shown that he has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League. However, with an impending two-transfer window ban (handed by FIFA) looming on the horizon, Sarri will now face the prospect of being banned from signing players until the end of next season which might disappoint him.
The Italian Manager’s Record In The Premier League
The ex-Empoli boss has an impressive managerial record at Stamford Bridge despite all the criticism surrounding his decision to play N’Golo Kante out of his natural position so that he can accommodate Jorginho in midfield. The 60-year-old has taken charge of 60 matches for Chelsea this term, winning 38, drawing 10 and losing 12 of those games across all competitions (Stats taken from Transfermarkt). He can also boast a healthy PPG (Points Per Game) average of 2.07 which is slightly lower than his record at his former club, Napoli.
Why The Pensioners Cannot Let Sarri Leave
It will be a time for stability at Stamford Bridge next season as they would have to find a way to cope without acquiring new players this summer. Sarri could be the ideal manager to lead them to some silverware in the coming years as he knows his players quite well by now. Thus, the Europa League semi-finalists cannot allow their manager to leave if Roma comes calling this summer.
