BAKU (AFP) - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri stormed off in anger after television cameras caught Gonzalo Higuain and David Luiz clashing at a training session in Baku ahead of Wednesday's (May 29) Europa League final.
Sarri was seen throwing away his Chelsea baseball cap, kicking it and then picking it up and angrily slamming it to the ground as he left the pitch at the Baku Olympic Stadium, where the final against Arsenal will be played.
The whole training session was open to media and so television cameras caught the incident, which does not bode well for Chelsea in the lead up to the match.
Sarri's reaction came not long after he had spoken of how he "loved" his players and English football, comments that suggested a departure from Stamford Bridge after just one season may not be inevitable.
The former Napoli boss has been strongly linked with a return to Italy to take the vacant coaching position at champions Juventus.
"I want to think only to the final. I have a contract with Chelsea for two years, so first of all I will speak with Chelsea, but now is not the moment," Sarri said of the Juventus speculation at a press conference in Baku on Tuesday.
The 60-year-old could replace the departing Massimiliano Allegri in Turin after a difficult season in London, and reports have said that Chelsea would not block his departure.
However, he insists his first season in charge after arriving from Napoli can be classified as a success regardless of what happens at the imposing Olympic Stadium here.
He did not lose a Premier League game until late November and despite his team's form tailing off after that, they still finished third, ahead of both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, to secure a return to the Champions League.
In addition, they only lost the League Cup final on penalties against Manchester City, and now have the chance to win the Europa League for the second time in seven seasons.
"For me at the beginning of the season it was really very difficult to understand my players, to understand the mentality, but after a very difficult month in January, in February they started to change," he said.
"In this moment I love them because I have 22 wonderful men and wonderful players so I'm really happy with them and of course I have to consider it for the future and I have to consider that I love English football, I love the Premier League."
Sarri added that winning the Europa League - which would be his first major honour - would turn a "very good season" into a "wonderful" one.
"We have had ups and downs, but from the downs we have become stronger, we built a stronger group and that is one of the reasons why we are here tonight," said skipper Cesar Azpilicueta.
"I think we all deserve to do tomorrow a good game, to play with our heart, to give everything.
"We missed the Carabao (League) Cup final on penalties in an unlucky way so tomorrow we have a good opportunity to be happy all together with the manager. There is no time to talk about this speculation."
VAR drama mars Juve's historic win. Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero with both goals in the 2-1 win over Sampdoria on Saturday, but controversy has arisen over whether the penalty from
Latest SERIE A | The Straits Times
Ikhsan Fandi scored a winning overhead kick in the last minute of play to secure a 3-2 win for his team, Raufoss IL, on Sunday night, May 12, in Oslo, Norway. Five Raufoss IL players crammed into
Ikhsan Fandi - Player Profile 2019 | Transfermarkt
The 2019 season is Hougang United's 22nd consecutive season in the top flight of Singapore football and in the S.League. Along with the S.League, the club will also compete in the Singapore Cup. Note 1: Fazrul Nawaz returned to the team after the loan and subsequently complete the transfer.
Singapore's Hougang United forced to terminate Ramazotti's contract
LONDON—Investigators searching for a lost plane carrying Premier League soccer player Emiliano Sala said on Jan. 30 that
Plane cushions found in search for missing soccer player Sala
Solskjaer warns Man Utd players over complacency and will look to keep that sequence going at Old Trafford on Saturday. "I want players to be confident but not be complacent and take their
Solskjaer warns Man Utd players over complacency | National
Feb 24, 2019 · James said of the inexperienced Lakers. After Laker loss to Pelicans, LeBron James frustrated with team's 'sense of urgency' Nick Nurse to become Canadian national team head coach
Lakers coach Luke Walton takes blame for Bucks loss
Football: Fandi brothers Irfan and Ikhsan score again for BG
Brain injury charity Headway has called for temporary substitutions. Defender Jan Vertonghen is to see a neurologist on Thursday after suffering a worrying head injury during Tottenham's Champions
Football: Vertonghen to see neurologist over head injury
This program is read by Richard Armitage. With a final twist that will shock even his most ardent listeners, Heads You Win is #1 New York Times bestseller Jeffrey Archer's most ambitious and creative work since Kane and Abel. Leningrad, Russia, 1968. Alexander Karpenko is no ordinary child, and
Everton 1-0 Man Utd - Fellaini Heads Toffees To Surprise Win
Man City launch appeal against Uefa FFP probe and potential Champions League ban. The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed City's appeal against Uefa
Football: Man City appeal against possible Champions League ban
Report Ad
Get A Free Quote Or Call & Learn About Our Reliable Movers Today!
Premier League: Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive Everton bolstered their chances of qualifying for next season's Europa League with a 2-0 win over Burnley in the Premier League on Friday.
Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive
Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool's record-breaking season is just the "first step" for his team after they were pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City. Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 at
Just the first step: Klopp, Football News & Top Stories - The
England captain Geva Mentor says she has "unfinished business" and has no plans to step down. Mentor, 30, led England to a bronze medal at the recent World Cup in Australia after taking over as
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has unfinished business
Manchester City football flag (Reuters pic) MANCHESTER: Manchester City will play a pre-season match in Japan for the first time when they take on J League side Yokohama F. Marinos on July 27, the
Manchester City to play pre-season match in Japan against
0 comments:
Post a Comment