Former Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri has admitted regretting leaving Chelsea after just one year in 2019. In his recent interview with Sky Sports, the 65-year-old tactician opened up on his decision to depart Stamford Bridge and return to his homeland.
“Leaving Chelsea has been my biggest mistake,” Sarri said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano. “There was a solid basis to stay and continue at the club. I made a big mistake in that moment.
“We won the Europa League, the project was great, but I wanted to return to Italy, unfortunately,” Sarri concluded.
After three years at Napoli, Sarri left Italy to coach a foreign side for the first time in 2018. He took charge of Chelsea in the wake of Antonio Conte’s departure and helped the club win their second Europa League title in his only season at the helm.
However, when Juventus came knocking on his door, Sarri decided to leave West London and move back to Serie A. It proved an unmitigated disaster, even though he inspired the Bianconeri to their last Scudetto in 2019/20.
Sarri had several disagreements with the board, resulting in his immediate farewell in the summer of 2020. In 2021, he embarked on his trophyless three-year stint at Lazio before stepping down as head coach in mid-March.
As it turns out, Lazio’s struggles have nothing to do with Sarri. His heir, Igor Tudor, recently left the Stadio Olimpico despite steering the Biancocelesti to a decent-looking Europa League finish last term.
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Sarri is the only coach who has almost completely perfected football. He’s way better than Guardiola. Sarri just needs to improve his relationship with people and control his emotions a little bit more. I know working with people is very difficult. I missed him already.