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Manager admits he regrets leaving Chelsea after David Luiz recalls ‘sad day’

During the decade between 2010 and 2020, nine different managers sat in the Chelsea dugout as the Blues enjoyed a turbulent, yet successful period in their career.

Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Di Matteo, Rafa Benitez, Jose Mourinho, Steve Holland, Guus Hiddink, Antonio Conte, Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard all stood on the touchline, hoping to guide Chelsea to success.

Three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup, a Champions League trophy and two Europa League titles came during that period as Roman Abramovich’s tenure as Chelsea owner drew to a close.

David Luiz recalls “sad day” that Maurizio Sarri left Chelsea

Last season, Chelsea faced Cypriot side Pafos and it saw David Luiz form a reunion with his old club. The veteran defender has continued playing this season with Pafos, who qualified for the Conference League.

This week, Pafos went to Atalanta, who are now managed by ex-Chelsea boss Sarri. Before Atalanta’s 3-1 win, in which Luiz started but was forced off after 37 minutes, Luiz recalled the day Sarri left Chelsea.

He told Sky Sports in Italy, as per Tribuna, that it was a “sad day” when Sarri left Chelsea after just one season. But he also understood: “I understand that for an Italian, saying no to Juve is difficult.”

How would you compare Chelsea’s sporting directors to their counterparts at other English clubs? Have they really been that bad? 🤔

Winstanley and Stewart for Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

In a largely unsurprising result, Atalanta brushed Pafos aside with a first-half blitz, scoring three times. Pafos got a late consolation and after the match, Sarri responded to Luiz’s comments in the mixed zone.

Asked about his decision to leave Chelsea after just one season to join Juventus, and Luiz’s comments, Sarri said: “We did win the Scudetto in Turin, but perhaps leaving the Premier League was an error.”

Sarri’s incredible record as Chelsea manager

Sarri was a surprise pick in the summer of 2018, as Chelsea looked to replicate the success of another Italian’s success at Stamford Bridge, in Conte. Chelsea lost just one of their first 19 games, winning 14.

Fatigue got the better of Chelsea in the second half of the season, with the Blues playing a huge 63 games that season. But they finished third in the Premier League, and won the Europa League trophy.

One of the best memories of Chelsea fans in the last decade is Sarri crying after Eden Hazard produced a masterclass in the final against Arsenal. But a few weeks later, Sarri had decided to move to Juventus.

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