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Tag: Chelsea

  • I am bored by the transfer market – Sarri

    I am bored by the transfer market – Sarri

    New Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri said he was one of the few managers who was “bored” by the transfer market and that his aim was to inject “fun” into his squad.

    “I feel more a pitch manager than a general manager,” he added.

    “I think that I am one of the few managers who is bored by the transfer market. I don’t want to talk about the transfer market and I am not interested in it.”

    Sarri conducted most of his news conference in Italian although he is able to speak English.

    He said: “I have to say sorry to everybody because my English is not so good. I don’t want to say anything wrong. I hope I will be able to do it [speak English] in a few weeks.”

    Sarri added: “I need to have fun in order to do well. My goal is to have fun while I am here.

    “The club have asked me to build a season where we have to be competitive in all competitions and in order to do that we must get to March and April in all competitions.”

    Sarri replaces Antonio Conte, who was sacked by Chelsea despite winning the Premier League in 2016-17 and the FA Cup in 2017-18.

    Chelsea’s new boss has yet to win a major trophy in his managerial career but said he was “not afraid” of the challenge ahead.

    “If I was someone who always worried I probably would do another job,” he said.

    “Our job means risks but there is also a lot of satisfaction. I am not afraid.”

    Last season, Chelsea finished 30 points behind champions Manchester City, managed by Sarri’s friend Pep Guardiola.

    “He is a class act, a champion and a genius,” Sarri added.

    Asked what he wanted to be called after Jose Mourinho announced himself as ‘The Special One’ upon arriving at Chelsea in 2004, Sarri added: “Just call me Maurizio.”

  • I want to improve Hazard, says new Chelsea coach Sarri

    I want to improve Hazard, says new Chelsea coach Sarri

    New Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri says he wants to keep Eden Hazard at the club and “improve” the Belgium forward.

    Hazard, who has been linked with Real Madrid, said last weekend “it might be time to discover something different” after six years at Stamford Bridge.

    Sarri, speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, described Hazard as “one of the top two or three European players”.

    The former Napoli boss said: “Hazard is a very high-level player. I hope that I will manage to improve him.”

    Roberto Martinez, the Belgium manager, told Spanish radio recently that Hazard should consider leaving Chelsea to further his career.

    The forward, for his part, responded to the Real Madrid reports by telling journalists last Saturday: “You know my preferred destination.

    “I can decide if I want to stay or go but Chelsea will make the final decision – if they want to let me go.”

    Sarri said he wanted to meet Hazard, who is away on holiday after representing Belgium at the World Cup.

    “I would like to have fun during the week with him. This would mean very good results and mean we would have been very competitive during the season,” added the 59-year-old Italian.

    Asked if he planned to phone Hazard – or any other player linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge – Sarri added: “A telephone call without looking them in the eye would not give me any certainly.

    “I’d like to meet them face to face. I would also like a player to come on the [training] pitch four or five days to have a clear idea.”

  • Belgium coach Martinez says Hazard should consider leaving Chelsea

    Belgium coach Martinez says Hazard should consider leaving Chelsea

    Eden Hazard should consider leaving Chelsea in order to further his career, says Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez.

    Hazard scored three goals for his country at the World Cup in Russia – including the second in the 2-0 win over England in the third/fourth place play-off – and contributed two assists to help Belgium achieve their best ever finish at the tournament.

    Hazard hinted after the win over England in St Petersburg that he feels it might be time to move on and Martinez believes he has the quality to play for the very best teams in world football.

    “It could be the best time [for Hazard] to try something different,” Martinez told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.

    “He is a player who has maturity and a lot of leadership. His play is based on talent.

    Hazard played a key role in helping Roberto Martinez’s Belgium finish third at the World Cup

    “Hazard could carry a new project anywhere in the world. He is at the best moment of his career. He could fit in any team in the world.

    “Players need new challenges and new projects. Perhaps it’s a good time for [Chelsea] and for Eden [to split].

    “I would be very surprised if Chelsea didn’t have big offers for him right now.”

     

  • With one or two adjustments, Chelsea can try to play my football – Sarri

    With one or two adjustments, Chelsea can try to play my football – Sarri

    The newly appointed Chelsea coach, Maurizio Sarri said he needs to make “one or two adjustments” before Chelsea will be ready to play his football as he looked forward to going head to head with the most important coaches in Europe.

    Sarri, says he would ‘give all his possessions to win something’ with Chelsea after replacing Antonio Conte as their manager.

    The Italian is the ninth man to be appointed the Blues’ full-time boss since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

    His first game in charge is next week’s pre-season friendly with Perth Glory.

    “With one or two adjustments we can try to play my football,” Sarri told the club’s official website.

    “I hope that fans can enjoy the team.

    “Chelsea is one of the most important clubs in the most important championships in Europe. The problem is that in England there are another five, six very good teams.

    Conte was sacked just 55 days after guiding Chelsea to FA Cup glory at Wembley and a year after winning the Premier League.

    But Sarri hopes to compete with some of football’s most respected managers when he goes up against Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino.

    “In the Premier League there are all the most important coaches in Europe, maybe in the world,” said Sarri.

    “For me it will be very exciting to play against Guardiola, Pochettino, Mourinho, Klopp and the others.

    “I am here for football. I am here for Chelsea. I want to play at Stamford Bridge. For me it’s a dream. London is a wonderful city, but I’m here for Chelsea.”

    Chelsea finished fifth in the league last season and missed out on qualification for the Champions League – something Sarri will be expected to achieve in his first season in charge.

  • I have enjoyed my time in England, Conte thanks Chelsea after sacking

    Antonio Conte has released a statement thanking Chelsea’s staff for their “hard work and support” during his time at the club.

    Conte was sacked as Chelsea head coach on Friday, with former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri named as his successor a day later following a protracted on-off move to the Premier League.

    Conte led Chelsea to the Premier League title during his first year in charge but they were unable to defend their crown last season, finishing fifth in the table before beating Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

    “I would like to thank all of my friends at Chelsea Football Club for their hard work and support over the past two seasons which enabled us to win the Premier League and FA Cup together,” Conte said in a statement issued through the League Managers Association (LMA).

    “To the players, whose talent and commitment was so important to our successes, I thank them for everything. It has been a pleasure working with them every day.

    “To my staff, who always worked so hard, I must say thank you and well done for their professionalism and dedication throughout.

    “I have enjoyed my time in England and London so much and I want to thank the Chelsea fans who have been amazing to me and my family.

    Chelsea have appointed former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri as their new head coach on a three-year deal.

    “It was fantastic for me to be able to share my emotions, passion and enthusiasm throughout two unforgettable seasons with these amazing Chelsea supporters, who will always stay in my heart.

    “I hope Chelsea will continue to be successful and I wish everyone well for next season.

    “I have made many memories during my time with Chelsea, which I will take with me into my next challenge.”

    Conte showed his tactical nous during his debut season in the Premier League as his Chelsea side became the first to win the title with a 3-4-3 formation, winning a then-record 30 of their 38 matches and going on a 13-match winning run along the way.

    LMA Chief Executive Richard Bevan said: “Antonio made an immediate impact when he arrived in the Premier League two years ago.

    “His energy and enthusiasm for football has been infectious and it has been a privilege to have one of the best coaches in the world working in the Premier League to raise the standard of the league and his players at Chelsea.

    “His record as a manager speaks for itself, with a record-breaking Premier League season and FA Cup title to look back on with pride.

    “Antonio is hugely respected by his peers within the English game, who voted him as LMA Manager of the Year in 2017.

    “We have no doubt that Antonio will go on to achieve many more successes in his career.”

  • BREAKING: Chelsea sack Antonio Conte as manager

    Chelsea have finally sacked Antonio Conte and paved the way for Maurizio Sarri to replace him as the club’s new head coach.

    Owner Roman Abramovich has risked paying Conte his full £9million compensation bill with the Italian ready to take a year out if no big jobs become available.

    Abramovich held off sacking Conte to see if a job became available that would save Chelsea having to pay him off, but the club have been left with little choice but to act – despite the Italian returning to take pre-season training since Monday.

    News broke from Italy that Conte had been sacked and, although Chelsea have refused to comment, Telegraph Sport understands he officially left the club on Thursday.

    Unless a private agreement can be struck or Chelsea and Conte embark on a bitter legal battle, the Blues will have to pay the 48-year-old for the final year of his contract that was only improved on July 18 last year.

    He added the FA Cup to the Premier League title he won in his first year in charge, but there was a feeling Chelsea and Conte could not go on together with neither side prepared to change their philosophies.

    Conte wanted greater control on the transfers and would have also attempted to instigate an overhaul of the playing squad had he stayed on for his final 12 months.

    He would have frozen out David Luiz, Willian and others, while Chelsea feared that Eden Hazard would not sign a new contract if Conte stayed on and were worried by his relationship with key players.

    That ultimately convinced Chelsea that the club could not risk the squad imploding over the next 12 months and work has been going on behind the scenes to secure Conte’s replacement.

    Sarri will now be confirmed as Conte’s successor after Chelsea finally made a breakthrough with Napoli over his release.

    The move from Napoli was held up after the Italian club appointed Carlo Ancelotti as their manager, but refused to let Sarri out of his contract.

    But progress has been made over the past 48 hours and Sarri has agreed a two-year contract with the option of a third if an agreement can be signed off with Napoli. Gianfranco Zola could also return to Chelsea as part of the backroom or technical staff.

    Sarri could be followed by midfielder Jorginho from Napoli, with Chelsea willing to pay £50m, plus £7m in bonuses, for the pair.

    The Blues also hope to sign Aleksandr Golovin and Daniele Rugani. They are also interested in goalkeeper Alisson Becker if Thibaut Courtois decides he wants to leave.

  • Sarri closer to becoming Chelsea boss as Blues eye Jorginho

    Sarri closer to becoming Chelsea boss as Blues eye Jorginho

    Maurizio Sarri is in final negotiations with former club Napoli as he edges closer to taking charge at Chelsea, says the Serie A club’s president.

    Chelsea have also joined Manchester City in the race to sign Napoli’s £50m-rated midfielder Jorginho.

    Antonio Conte took charge of Chelsea’s pre-season training at the weekend, despite speculation over his future.

    Sarri has held talks with Chelsea, but remains contracted to Napoli, who have replaced him with Carlo Ancelotti.

    “We are in the finishing line,” said Aurelio de Laurentiis. “Now it depends on [Sarri] and Chelsea.

    “The Sarri affair is nearly at its conclusion, it all depends on him. My lawyers have submitted papers to his lawyers.”

    Italian Sarri, 59, joined Napoli in 2015 and led them to second behind champions Juventus last season.

    Conte, 48, has a clause in his contract that guarantees him a pay-off, thought to be £9m, for the final year of his deal.

    This would be reduced if the former Italy and Juventus coach got another job, but most of the vacancies he would be interested in have now been filled.

    Conte won the Premier League in his first season at the club in 2017, and the FA Cup in May this year.

    Chelsea join Jorginho race

    Meanwhile, Chelsea have joined Manchester City in the battle to sign Italy midfielder Jorginho.

    City manager Pep Guardiola identified Jorginho as his replacement for Yaya Toure, who left the club at the end of last season.

    The 26-year-old indicated a willingness to join the Premier League champions, leaving City confident of completing a deal for about £50m.

    However, De Laurentiis said he had concluded negotiations with City two weeks ago but that Jorginho had subsequently told him his preference was a move to London.

    “If the player would rather live in London than Manchester, I can understand that,” said De Laurentiis.

    “I’ll have to apologise to Manchester City”, he added.

    “If Chelsea are paying him even more, I can understand that too. Jorginho and Sarri together again? Jorginho would go to Chelsea regardless of Sarri.”

    Jorginho signed for Napoli in 2014 and made 36 appearances for the Serie A side last season, scoring against City in the Champions League in November.

    BBC

  • Abramovich visa delay puts Chelsea stadium expansion on hold

    Chelsea’s Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich has put the club’s stadium plans on hold after delays to the renewal of his UK visa.

    The estimated cost for a new 60,000 seat Stamford Bridge has increased to £1bn after delays, which included a dispute with a local family.

    Abramovich is unwilling to invest in a major project in a country where he is not allowed work.

    The 51-year-old’s UK investor visa expired some weeks ago.

    But it is understood that Abramovich’s decision will have no impact on the running of the football team.

    The delay in issuing him a new visa comes amid increased diplomatic tensions between London and Moscow after the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.

    The British government has refused to comment on his individual case.

    Chelsea issued a statement saying the club had delayed work on Stamford Bridge because of “the current unfavourable investment climate”.

    It added: “No further pre-construction design and planning work will occur. The club does not have a time frame set for reconsideration of its decision.”

    Plans were under consideration to move Chelsea matches to Wembley stadium for the four years it would take to redevelop Stamford Bridge.

    Although the future of Wembley is in doubt after Fulham owner Shahid Khan offered £600m to buy the stadium from the Football Association, it is not thought to be a factor in Chelsea’s decision.

    BBC

  • Former Chelsea midfielder Lampard named Derby County manager

    Frank Lampard says his new job as Derby County manager “won’t be easy” but that it presents a “huge opportunity” after joining the Rams on a three-year deal.

    Lampard, taking on his first managerial role, was one of 20 applicants for the job and becomes Derby’s seventh appointment in just over three years.

    The 39-year-old ex-Chelsea and England midfielder said he spent “considerable time” discussing the role.

    He replaces Gary Rowett after he left to join fellow Championship side Stoke.

    Lampard is set to be unveiled to the media at a news conference at 14:00 BST on Thursday – which you can watch live on the BBC Sport website.

    “I’ve always wanted to manage a club with a big tradition and history like Derby County, so this is a huge opportunity,” said Lampard.

    “I have spent considerable time discussing the role and the club’s objectives with the chairman and board members.

    “This is my first job as a manager, but I’ve worked closely with some of the best coaches in the game and I’m confident in my own abilities and those of the team around me, including the board.

    “I know it won’t be easy – managing a football team never is – but I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

    Lampard, capped 106 times by England, made 649 appearances for Chelsea and is the club’s record goalscorer.

    Derby finished sixth in the second tier last season but lost in the play-off semi-finals to Fulham and have been without a manager since Rowett’s departure on 22 May.

    Chelsea youth team coach Jody Morris, a former Blues team-mate of Lampard’s, is expected to join the Rams’ coaching staff.

    BBC

  • Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to become Israeli citizen, gets UK visiting Visa

    Chelsea football club owner, Roman Abramovich can enter Britain on a visitor visa after gaining Israeli citizenship, Theresa May’s spokesperson has said.

    The Russian billionaire “can come as a visitor for six months but will need a visa to live, work or study in the UK,” the spokesperson added.

    The clarification came after Mr Abramovich was granted citizenship in Israel after failing to renew his visa to Britain.

    Russia’s 11 richest man’s UK visa application had been “taking longer than usual” to process amid increasing tensions between London and Moscow, sources told Reuters.

    It has been reported that Mr Abramovich would have to explain the source of his wealth to receive a new British visa.

    Commenting on his new Israeli citizenship, the Kremlin said Mr Abramovich had every right to take it under Israel’s ‘law of return’ for Jews.

    “The Kremlin doesn’t think anything about this,” government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

    “An entrepreneur has received Israeli citizenship. So what? It is his right.”

    Mr Abramovich, who is Jewish, flew to Tel Aviv on Monday and obtained documents confirming his status as an Israeli citizen, the Israeli news site Ynet reported.

    The country’s interior ministry confirmed Mr Abramovich had gained citizenship there, The Times of Israel reports, adding that he is now the country’s richest man.

    An official at Nativ, a government department that deals with Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union, said Mr Abramovich had applied for an immigration visa at Israel’s embassy in Moscow.

    They added: “His documents were examined under the ‘law of return’ and he was indeed entitled to immigrant status in Israel, and as a result he was issued an immigration visa.”

    Israel’s law of return gives every Jew, or child or grandchild of a Jew, the right to Israeli citizenship.

    Relations between Moscow and London have been strained since the poisoning of former Russian double-agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury in March.

    Britain has blamed the attack on Russia but the Kremlin denies any involvement.

    The UK said this month it would review long-term visas of wealthy Russians after the poisoning.

    Mr Abramovich has been a regular visitor to Israel and Ynet said he had bought a property that was formerly a hotel.

    The building is based in an old Tel Aviv neighbourhood close to the Mediterranean shore.