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The Europa League final takes place on May 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. That much is known. But what happens afterwards is very much shrouded in mystery.
The futures of multiple key Chelsea pieces are up in the air, including head coach Maurizio Sarri’s, despite already achieving the minimum expectations for the season by qualifying for the Champions League. Reports in Italy certainly think there’s a very good chance he leaves, especially with both Juventus and AS Roma apparently putting him high (if not at the very top) of their coaching candidates lists.
While Sarri says he wants to stay, he admits he’s not sure what the plans are. And that’s no way to go about trying to improve his football at the Bridge, so yesterday’s report from the Times, about Sarri wanting clarity on his future makes plenty of common sense. The need for a decision is further exacerbated by the contract situations of Sarri’s coaching staff, who apparently were all given one-year deals even though Sarri himself was given three.
Football Notebook: Sarri wants quick decision on #CFC future as 11 staff out of contract; Luke Shaw paid price for withdrawing from last England squad; Danny Rose courted by Everton and Schalke at time of “crazy” question; VAR clips on screens at Cup final https://t.co/GPx6cyermo
— Matt Hughes (@MattHughesTimes) May 17, 2019
It is a similar contractual situation to what reportedly caused some conflict between Sarri and his previous assistants at Napoli — thus the need for Gianfranco Zola and the mysterious Luca Gotti to come in, to join the “four wizards” and a few others — which seems silly to be repeating, but perhaps it’s standard practice.
Either way, quickly figuring out what we’re going to do is surely beneficial to any and all involved, so hopefully we won’t see a repeat of last summer’s petty, drawn-out shenanigans one way or another.