Sarri would like to coach Tonali, opens up about Milan, Conte, Ronaldo and Juventus ‘revolution’

Maurizio Sarri admits he’d love to coach Sandro Tonali and Domenico Berardi and feels Juventus are ‘ready’ for a ‘cultural revolution’ while Maurizio Corsi is the most ‘competent’ President he’s worked for.

Sarri resigned as Lazio coach in March and is still without a club, but he’d love to return to the dugout soon.

“I hope to do so before January, but it depends on the situations and the offers I receive, the motivations and the call that will give me more adrenaline,” the 65-year-old told Gazzetta.

“I don’t see myself at the last dance. I still want to coach and I think I am in a situation to give something. It’s true that young coaches are trending, but three coaches of my age won European cups last season. Ancelotti in Champions League, Gasperini in Europa League and Mendilibar in Conference. Same as De La Fuente, European champion with Spain.”

Is there a club outside Europe that he’d like to coach one day?

“Boca Juniors would be a final, crazy dream, but I don’t know if it will be possible. Some games at the Bombonera would be a unique experience.”

What’s his take on Serie A after the opening three games of the season?

Sarri would like to coach Tonali, opens up about Milan, Conte, Ronaldo and Juventus ‘revolution’

“To play with ongoing negotiations is strange,” Sarri replied.

“I’ve always said so and I sounded like a grumble. Now, everyone says the same thing. Let’s wait a few games to understand. In truth, Jurgen Klopp said that it takes two years to judge a coach’s work.”

Some Milan fans expected to see Sarri on their bench this summer rather than Paulo Fonseca.

“It’s not nice to talk about it now. Respect is needed. Paulo Fonseca is a good coach, a man of high level,” insisted Sarri.

“I’ve met him in person; he’s at the beginning of a new journey, and he must be calm. I don’t want to be involved in this.”

How about Juventus? They have hired Motta to have a better playing style, something that Sarri didn’t entirely accomplish in Turin. The Italian tactician won the Scudetto in 2019-20, but was sacked after just one season.

“It’s like two different movies. When I arrived at Juventus, there was no condition for a cultural revolution. Right now, I think there is. It’s just the beginning but you can see Motta’s desire to do something different,” he said.

Sarri coached Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, while Motta works with another Cristiano, Giuntoli, who was the Napoli during Sarri’s three-year spell at the club.

“Ronaldo had his best season in Italy with me, he scored 37 goals across all competitions,” insisted the coach.

“With Giuntoli, we did great things at Napoli in three years. It would be ideal to have both Cristianos at the same time.

“Giuntoli will definitely win again, but I don’t know when. He will win with Juventus, too. He’s a director who quickly understands the players’ characteristics and the ideal footballers for his coach. He has immense courage, which he passes on to the team and the staff. I respect Cristiano so much, and I am sure he has good reasons for these drastic changes.

“I don’t live in the past. I keep a copy of the Scudetto trophy in a room with shirts and pennants from every category. Victory makes me embarrassed, Buffon once told me the same thing. People think that victory is everything. It is important, but the journey is more. I made amazing journeys despite not winning.”

Was Gonzalo Higuain the ideal centre-forward for Sarri?

“When I arrived at Napoli, he wanted to leave, but I convinced him in five minutes,” the ex-Napoli boss revealed.

“I told him about the style of football I wanted and that he would score bags of goals. A fully fit Higuain is my ideal striker; he would be for any coach. He is an absolute top player.”

What’s his view on new Napoli coach Conte?

“I admire Conte. Besides being a great coach, Antonio is able to make his clubs invest. Napoli have built a strong team and Antonio will realise an important cycle. I don’t know if he’ll win right away, but this is his history. Aurelio is impulsive, but Napoli has developed during his tenure, and I will forever be grateful for giving me a chance to coach the club of my heart. His silence surprises me, but I hope it’s the beginning of something positive.”

Has he ever regretted leaving Lazio?

“No, it was a moment of personal and interior fragility. There were situations I didn’t like. In those cases, you extend with a coach or sack him. Or the coach hands his resignation. And I did it.”

Sarri has worked with many iconic presidents in his career, from Corsi at Empoli to Aurelio De Laurentiis at Napoli, Andrea Agnelli at Juventus, Roman Abramovich at Chelsea and Claudio Lotito at Lazio. Who is the most competent football-wise?

“Tactically, Fabrizio Corsi,” Sarri replied.

“They are all nice characters. Lotito is so funny at dinner, even if you may argue with him about football. De Laurentiis is the most brilliant. It feels like he’s not generous, but at Christmas, he always makes important presents.”

Sarri said that Pep Guardiola is a “genius who is constantly evolving,” while Ancelotti transits “serenity” even if “You can learn from everyone.”

“One example is Possanzini’s Mantova,” said Sarri.

“I like the way he builds up from the back. I’d love to see his training sessions.”

Teun Koopmeiners, Hakan Calhanoglu or Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Who is the best Serie A midfielder?

“I have a special affection towards Loftus, who I coached at Chelsea,” admitted Sarri.

“We are talking about different players. It’s not possible to compare them.”

Is there a player he’d like to coach?

“Two Italians: Berardi and Tonali. A team must have a solid group of local players. I am delighted with Italy’s win over France. Perhaps it’s the start of a new cycle. Maybe we were exhausted at the Euros, it’s everyone and nobody’s fault. It’s nice to see Buffon on the national team; he helped me so much at Juventus.”

Max Allegri once said that football is simple, while Luciano Spalletti believes it shouldn’t be said. What’s Sarri’s view on this?

“Like Johan Crujff used to say, not Maurizio Sarri, football is simple, but making the team play simple football is the most challenging thing in the world.”

Is there somebody he wants to apologise to?

“To Cristian Maggio,” Sarri admitted.

“I personally apologised to him when I met him at Coverciano a few months ago. My last game at Napoli was his last one for the Azzurri. I wanted to end the season with 91 points, but I didn’t introduce him on the bench. I made a mistake.”