AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini offered his insight on Chelsea’s recent appointment of former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri.
The legendary defender admits that while he is a big fan of Sarri and the qualities he offers, it’ll be a new challenge for him coming to such a tough league and coping with both the language barrier and stylistic differences.
Although Sarri was a big hit at Napoli, this will be his first big job outside of Italy, and it’s also worth noting he’s inherited a tricky situation at Stamford Bridge – where they don’t have the best track record of allowing managers too long if things don’t start smoothly.
MORE: Medical today: Chelsea close to finalising smart signing as trio of Blues players could leave
Maldini told Joe.co.uk: “I hope he is able to share with them some of the knowledge he brought to Serie A, where with Empoli and Napoli he did great work in the last few years.
“If he gets the time, if the players understand and accept his ways – you have to think about the language barrier and different demands, a different way of training – then I feel he will be very successful.
“In England, it is the most tough league to come in, especially if you are a manager. It is like a different world with football.
“Sarri is good tactically, with football that you want to watch, but he also has strong discipline too. I’d be very, very happy to see him make a big difference in the Premier League.”
Maldini also told Joe.co.uk about how he very nearly joined Chelsea’s coaching staff when Italian Carlo Ancelotti was in charge during 2009.
He explained, however, that he’d only just retired from playing and did not feel ready to make such a move at that time.
“I know and I’ve always known that I wouldn’t like to be a coach,” he said. “When Ancelotti called me to join him, it was only one week after I played my last game, so I felt it was too early to make a decision like that.
“The more I thought about it, the more I realised, ‘yes, I really don’t want to be a coach.’
![Loading ...]( "Loading ...")
Loading ...
Loading ...Despite Chelsea enjoying some great success over the last decade, the potential presence of Maldini as part of the club’s coaching team could well have led to Chelsea adding more silverware to their trophy cabinet at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s opening fixture of their Premier League season will be away to Huddersfield on Saturday afternoon.
But before then the Club must brave the storm of the upcoming transfer deadline, with a number of potentials ins and outs looking likely before Thursday evening’s transfer deadline.
Having finished fifth last season, it’s vital Sarri gets off to a good start with some strong additions if he is to improve on last season’s disappointments under Antonio Conte.