Tottenham Hotspur could bring another former Chelsea manager to N17, according to emerging reports…
What’s the word?
Italian news outlet Calciomercato claim that Maurizio Sarri is high on their wishlist to replace the recently sacked Jose Mourinho in north London.
In fact, they suggest that talks between the Spurs hierarchy and the 62-year-old have already gotten underway and that the ex-Juventus title-winner is keen to return to London.
Although, he has also been linked to AS Roma, where Paulo Fonseca’s job appears to be under threat.
Should Spurs hire Sarri?
Yes please!
No thanks!
Mourinho 2.0
This could well have disaster written all over it for Spurs.
Despite winning the Europa League at Stamford Bridge, Sarri’s stock hardly rose and he was sacked by Juve ahead of this current campaign having failed dismally in Europe, with the inexperienced Andrea Pirlo taking over, which speaks volumes in itself.
The former Napoli man earned a bit of a negative reputation at Spurs’ rivals, particularly for the brand of football on offer and that would go against one of Levy’s key aims – to find an attack-minded coach next.
After Chelsea were dumped out of the FA Cup by Manchester United, ex-Blues defender Mario Melchiot lambasted his tactics to talkSPORT, he said:
“You’re losing the game and you bring on a full-back for a full-back? He needed to make a change and bring on a more attacking minded player,” before going onto add: “Sarri is very stubborn, everybody knows that. He has this way of playing and I think everybody should be stubborn when you’re a manager, but you also have to have common sense and be logical about what works and what doesn’t work.”
Towards the end of his time at the club, fans were often heard chanting against ‘Sarri-ball’ but in far more colourful language.
He was also shamed for publically criticising his players after he was claimed that “this group of players is extremely difficult to motivate” following defeat to Arsenal.
All of these factors bear similarities to the Mourinho reign at Spurs.
It is thought that Levy pulled the trigger on the Portuguese after effectively losing the dressing room. According to The Athletic, Mourinho “sucked the culture out of the club” and many at the club were unhappy with how he threw his players under the bus in recent months.
As another former rival boss, you’d imagine this would go down like a led balloon, too.
By appointing Sarri, the Spurs chairman could well be about to repeat the same mistake. If he wants to go down a different path this time, then he must avoid appointing the out-of-work Italian.
AND in other news, Exclusive: Spurs legend makes big claim about Mourinho pay-off…
