Sarri: Chelsea Start Was Positive, Juventus Memories Aren't Good

Maurizio Sarri believes Atalanta should not worry about their current situation, noting that "the only positive start in my career was at Chelsea." He admitted he doesn't hold "good memories" of his tenure at Juventus.

Sarri's spell with Juventus in the 2019/20 season, despite winning the Scudetto, lasted only one year and is not recalled fondly by either side. He attributed this to the unusual circumstances of playing in empty stadiums due to the pandemic. "It was a strange season with the stadiums practically empty from March onwards due to the pandemic, and perhaps that is one of the reasons why I don’t have good memories of that experience," Sarri told Sky Sport Italia.

Now leading Atalanta, Sarri is working to introduce a new playing style, a significant shift for a club accustomed to a back three for a decade. This transition has presented initial challenges, with the team securing three wins, one draw, and two losses across Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the Conference League so far.

Comparing his current situation to past experiences, Sarri recalled his time at Empoli where the team was at the bottom of the table after nine rounds but eventually reached the promotion play-off final. He also mentioned a slow start at Napoli. "At Napoli, we had two or three points after four rounds. These are difficulties I have run into constantly over the course of my career. The only positive start I had was at Chelsea, but for the rest it was always difficult," he stated.

Sarri explained that the more a team's previous playing style differs from his own, the more initial difficulties arise. He described the current season as "a year of construction," with both the sporting director and the club focused on long-term development rather than immediate targets.

He emphasized that the core issue isn't simply the defensive formation (three or four men) but rather "the way of defending and attacking, how the team moves and thinks collectively. Systems have their importance, of course, but are not decisive."

Regarding Atalanta's summer transfers, including the arrival of Jonathan Rowe from Bologna, Sarri expressed a common sentiment among coaches. "I am yet to meet a single coach who is 100 per cent happy with how the club worked on the transfer market," he remarked. He added that the focus should be on evaluating the entire squad, acknowledging that some new players are ready while others require development. Ultimately, he believes "we brought in quality players, and that is what counts."