PERTH, Australia (AP) - New Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri hopes face-to-face talks with players reportedly on the verge of quitting the London club will help to change their minds.
After his team’s 1-0 win over the A-League’s Perth Glory on Monday, Sarri said he hopes to speak by the end of the month to Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, and Willian, who are all reported to be considering offers to play elsewhere.
Sarri took over this month from Antonio Conte and is eager to clarify the plans of several players.
“I’d like to talk to a person face by face. I don’t like to talk to a person by telephone,” Sarri says. “It’s clear that for me it’s a pleasure to have Courtois, to have Willian, to have Hazard. But it doesn’t depend on me, not only on me.”
Sarri was mainly satisfied with Chelsea’s preseason performance in front of a Perth crowd of 55,500. Pedro scored after five minutes, Chelsea hit the post twice, but Perth finished stronger.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.