Europa League final: Chelsea play down Maurizio Sarri’s training tantrum
Blues boss is under pressure ahead of the final against Arsenal in Baku
Uefa Europa League final: Chelsea vs. Arsenal
- When: Wednesday 29 May
- Where: Baku Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan
- Kick-off time: 8pm (BST)
- TV channel and live stream: BT Sport 2 and YouTube
- Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
- Match preview: team news and predictions
Maurizio Sarri lost his temper in spectacular style during Chelsea’s final training session ahead of tonight’s Europa League final clash against Arsenal in Baku.
The Italian, reports Sky Sports, was “seen repeatedly throwing and kicking his cap as he walked off the field with the session ongoing”. The alleged cause of Sarri’s meltdown was “an altercation between David Luiz and Gonzalo Higuain”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The pair squared up towards the end of the session and although the exact cause of the Blues’ bust-up isn’t known, the Daily Express speculates that it may have been prompted by Higuain’s frustration at not starting tonight’s match.
Italian anger
Whatever the cause of the contretemps, the club was quick to play it down, releasing a statement in which it attempted to set the record straight.
“Maurizio’s frustration displayed at the end of training was not related to any of his players,” said the Chelsea statement. “But was due to not being able to practise set-plays in the final 15 minutes of the hour-long training session as it remained open to media.”
Perhaps Sarri’s strop was also influenced by the injury to key midfielder N’Golo Kante, who is struggling to recover from a knock to his knee.
Kante a doubt
Having sat out Chelsea’s previous two games with a hamstring strain, Kante returned to training last week only to suffer this latest setback at the weekend.
“He has a very little problem with his knee,” Sarri told reporters. “The problem is the timing. We are trying. At the moment, we don’t know [if he will be fit]. We will try until the last moment.”
Asked on Tuesday to rate the Frenchman’s chances of playing against Arsenal, Sarri said: “50-50 at the moment. Yesterday 60-40, today 50-50. He was a little bit better this morning.”
Having lost Ruben Loftus-Cheek to a serious Achilles heel injury during a friendly in the USA earlier this month, the absence of Kante would be a serious blow to the Blues, leaving them with only three fit central midfielders in Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho and Ross Barkley.
Feel the love
Sarri was also asked in the press conference about his relationship with Chelsea amid growing speculation that he could be lured back to Italy to replace Massimiliano Allegri as coach of Juventus.
Although he didn’t comment on the rumours, Sarri was effusive in his praise for his Chelsea players.
“At the beginning of the season, it was really very difficult to understand my players, to understand their mentality,” explained Sarri. “But after a very difficult month in January, in February they started to change I think, or probably I changed, I don’t know.
“In this moment, I love them, because I have 22 wonderful men and wonderful players, so now I’m really very 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.”
Today’s back pages
“Mad cap” Chelsea boss Sarri kicks off in Baku
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Thomas Tuchel to become next England football manager
Speed Read 'Divisive' German coach hopes to lead the men's team to victory
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published