'I want Sarri to stay' - Chelsea urged to retain manager despite Juventus interest

BetOdds Chelsea Premier League Serie A Juventus

Ex-Blues midfielder Gus Poyet has praised the Italian for a strong debut campaign in the Premier League and feels he deserves another year at the helm

Gus Poyet wants Chelsea to retain Maurizio Sarri's services but concedes that he may have already decided to return to Italy with Juventus.

The 60-year-old tactician was drafted in to replace Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge last summer, after three successful years in Serie A withÂ Napoli.

The Italian guided the Blues to a third-placed Premier League finish and secured the first trophy of his managerial career in the form of the Europa League.

Despite a strong first year in England, Sarri's preferred style of play and stubborn selection policy hasÂ drawn criticism in certain quarters, with exit talk swirling since Christmas.

The Chelsea head coach is expected to succeed Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus this summer, having already confessed that he misses life in Italy.

But Poyet, who played at the Bridge between 1997 and 2001, is hoping that Sarri will stay in west London, despite fears he may have already "had enough" of English football.

â€œSarri, for me, has done very well,â€ Poyet told talkSport.

â€œI know we talked earlier in the season about the style of football, about Sarriball, blah, blah, blah.

â€œBut at the end of the day, he finished third behind the two best teams for many, many years in the Premier League, heÂ won the Europa LeagueÂ and was in the final of the League Cup, which they lost on penalties. So it wasnâ€™t that bad.

â€œIâ€™m not sure whether itâ€™s Chelsea that want him to leave, or he himself wants to leave.

â€œIt looks to me that heâ€™s had enough of the criticism for the job heâ€™s done and actually he is the one who wants to leave.

â€œMe? I want Sarri to stay. Having the results theyâ€™ve had, I think itâ€™s a good option to have him for another year. But Iâ€™ve got a feeling that itâ€™s him who has had enough. I hope not, though.â€

Chelsea legend and current Derby County boss Frank Lampard has been touted for a return to his old club if Sarri leaves, after an impressive debut season at Pride Park.

Poyet has urged a former team-mate to seize the opportunityÂ with both hands if he is offered the job, adding: "I think itâ€™s a beautiful job and, if he has the chance, Frank has to jump at it.

â€œItâ€™s a rare opportunity and itâ€™s a good option. He knows the club, he knows the politics inside the club and he knows you need to have a different way of playing.â€

2019-06-12 18:00:01

Comments

Send Your Comment

Download Application