Sarri finds unique way around sideline cigarette ban

It’s not as if Chelsea have never had a manager who smokes before. Carlo Ancelotti enjoys firing one up. Other current and former Premier League managers, like Jurgen Klopp, Sam Allardyce and Arsene Wenger (when he was younger) also indulged.

But Maurizio Sarri takes it to another level. He’s a chain smoker who may go through up to five packs a day.

And that’s led to a weird fascination with how he’d cope with the smoking ban in enclosed public places in England. He can’t smoke on the sideline or dugout anywhere in his new league, unlike in Italy.

His solution? Let’s call it creative. On Saturday he was seen gripping just the filter of a ciggie between his teeth.

And where did that filter come from? An eagle-eyed fan spotted his stash in the dugout.

Hey, whatever works, right? Good for him for finding a creative solution. (Ed. note: but maybe someone should just tell him about chewing tobacco.)