Maurizio Sarri is perfect for Chelsea: Former Napoli manager is low maintenance, hates transfers — and doesn’t mind a moan

VIBRANT, attacking football from a manager who asks no questions and cannot stand being involved in transfer negotiations.

Could there be a more perfect description for the man Roman Abramovich has hired to lead Chelsea?

CIRO DE LUCA

Maurizio Sarri is the ideal replacement for Antonio Conte at Chelsea

The Blues owner has finally found Antonio Conte's replacement, and there is no better man for the job than Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri.

Conte remained popular with the fans throughout his time at Stamford Bridge, following his title win in 2017.

But like so many managers before him, Conte was unable to maintain a decent working relationship with the board, reportedly being forced to work with players he didn't ask for.

AFP - Getty

Maurizio Sarri is a maverick who will bring some colour to English football

Getty - Contributor

Chelsea have already snapped up Jorginho, who will be crucial to Sarri's playing style

AFP

Napoli's front three: Lorenzo Inisgne, Dries Mertens, Jose Callejon

Sarri, on the other hand, hates the transfer market.

He famously called it "the refuge of the weak", and insists: "I am a coach. Give me a group of players and I will coach them."

That is surely music to Abramovich's ears, given player recruitment has been issue with several managers since the Russian's arrival in 2003.

Sarri has already snapped up Jorginho and been linked with Gonzalo Higuain and Kalidou Koulibaly, both of whom he worked with at Napoli.

But he is only expected to be given the resources to build a strong starting eleven, before being asked to turn to the Blues' formidable academy.

Chelsea managers under Roman Abramovich

Claudio Ranieri — 2003-04

Jose Mourinho — 2004-07, 2013-15

Premier League (3): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2014–15

FA Cup: 2006–07

League Cup (2): 2004–05, 2006–07, 2014–15

Community Shield: 2005

Avram Grant — 2007-08

Luiz Felipe Scolari — 2008-09

Guus Hiddink — 2009, 2015-16

FA Cup — 2008-09

Carlo Ancelotti — 2009-11

Premier League — 2009-10

FA Cup — 2009-10

Community Shield — 2009

Andre Villas-Boas — 2011-12

Roberto Di Matteo — 2012

FA Cup — 2011-12

Champions League — 2011-12

Rafa Benitez — 2012-13

Europa League — 2013

Antonio Conte — 2016-present

Premier League — 2016-17

AFP

Napoli became one of most exciting sides to watch in Europe under Sarri

Getty

Maurizio Sarri was regarded as best tactical coach in Serie A

One of the most most-tactically astute managers on the current circuit, Sarri was always able to overcome the loss of his biggest names at Napoli.

He has reacted to numerous major setbacks, such as the loss of star-striker Gonzalo Higuain to rivals Juventus and the long-term injury to replacement Arkadiusz Milik, by changing his system.

Sarri is a maverick, who has been known to leave a stadium mid-game for a quick cigarette when smoking is not allowed, and is not afraid to take on some of football's biggest names.

Rather than focusing on one main striker, Napoli deployed a three-man "miniature" frontline, made up of the Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens and Jose Callejon.

Further back, he used Chelsea's new signing Jorginho, with the work-horse Allan alongside him.

In Pedro, Eden Hazard and Willian, Chelsea have a ready-made frontline Sarri could mould in his own image, while N'Golo Kante plays Allan's role alongside one of Europe's best deep-lying playmakers.

Furthermore, as has been common with Blues managers in recent seasons, he loves a moan.

AFP

Maurizio Sarri is not afraid to take on big names such as Massimiliano Allegri

AFP - Getty

Maurizio Sarri has been known to take a mid-game break for cigarette

Sarri has been labelled as "obsessed" with the calendar, as he constantly complained about having to play matches after Juventus last season.

He is a maverick, who has been known to leave a stadium mid-game for a quick cigarette where smoking is banned, and is not afraid to take on some of football's biggest names.

Sarri is learning English, but already has a start, having started off as international banker in 1999, where he worked across Europe.

The only negative may be his unwillingness to rotate.

Last season, Napoli effectively wrote off the Champions League and subsequently the Europa League, to concentrate wholly on winning Serie A, starting with a similar XI every week.

Getty Images

Roman Abramovich will love fact Maurizio Sarri is not interested in transfers

Getty Images

Highly-rated Amadou Diawara was not been involved in many big matches

AFP

Maurizio Sarri was criticised for failing to rotate enough

That may not bode well for Chelsea's academy prospects in the short term.

Central midfielder Amadou Diawara, 20, who looks to be a future star following some impressive performances last season, started just five Serie A matches last season.

Simone Verdi, who rejected a move to San Paolo to stay at Bologna in January, may have been put off by Sarri's unwillingness to rotate his squad.

And that will not wash at Chelsea. The Stamford Bridge outfit are looking to win every competition, and that will require use of the entire squad.

But the positives hugely outweigh the negatives, and Sarri would surely ideal manager in the circumstances.

He would take the Pep Guardiola blueprint of attacking as a team, using the players handed to him by Abramovich.

What more could the Chelsea owner ask for?

VIBRANT, attacking football from a manager who asks no questions and cannot stand being involved in transfer negotiations.