Maurizio Sarri isn’t even a week into his job at Chelsea and is already feeling the heat from owner Roman Abramovich.
The ruthless Russian billionaire has reportedly ordered the new manager to ditch his trademark tracksuits and half-time dressing room smoking breaks.
Sarri is replacing fellow Italian Antonio Conte at the Stamford Bridge helm after impressing Abramovich with his attacking football at Napoli in Serie A.
However, his style on the touchline doesn’t match up to that of his players on the pitch and the 59-year-old favours a shell suit to a Hugo Boss number.
Conte was always seen wearing a suit on matchdays, except for Carabao Cup ties, during his time at the club and his compatriot will be expected to do the same, claims reports.
Sarri faced the media for the first time yesterday and turned up in all his finery to answer questions from the world’s press.
The second order from Abramovich concerns Sarri’s nicotine addiction and there’s a zero-tolerance policy on that front from the Blues’ hierarchy.
He was often pictured puffing away in the dugout in Naples before Serie A chiefs clamped down on his smoking habit and he was forced to smoke in the changing rooms.
But there will be no such luxury afforded to the new boss at the Bridge as there is a strict no smoking policy inside the premises.
Sarri has been thrown in at the deep end at Chelsea after the World Cup and last night jetted off to Australia for the club’s pre-season fixtures.
He said: “I need to have fun in order to do well. My goal is to have fun while I am here.
“The club have asked me to build a season where we have to be competitive in all competitions and in order to do that we must get to March and April in all competitions.”
Sarri was joined on the Plane to Perth by club legend Gianfranco Zola following his appointment to his new-look Blues coaching team yesterday evening.