Stewart Robson delves into how Maurizio Sarri transformed Napoli and what he’ll need to do to replicate a similar turnaround at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of club legend Gianfranco Zola as Maurizio Sarri’s assistant coach.
Zola returns to Stamford Bridge, where he won the enduring love of supporters with seven spectacular years as a player from 1996 to 2003, in order to help Sarri with the adaptation from Napoli to Chelsea ahead of a Premier League season, which begins in just over three weeks’ time.
“For me it is an amazing thing,” Zola told Chelsea’s website. “I am very willing to work hard because it is going to be a difficult challenge but I am pleased to be here, and to work hard with Maurizio to be successful. It would be great to be successful with Maurizio and for the club and I will give my best, as I did in the past as a player, so I will give my best in my new position.
“I am very much looking forward to the challenge in general. I would love us to start well and we are all very excited to start this new adventure.”
Carlo Cudicini, regarded internally as a club rather than a manager employee, has been retained in his role as assistant to the first-team coach, but Antonio Conte’s backroom team have been almost entirely replaced by Sarri’s chosen staff.
Zola and the rest of the coaches joined the new Chelsea boss and his squad in flying to Australia on Wednesday evening, a matter of hours after Sarri was unveiled to the assembled British and international media at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea face Perth Glory in their first preseason friendly at Optus Stadium on Monday, before returning to Europe to participate in the International Champions Cup.
They will take on Inter in Nice on July 28, Arsenal in Dublin on Aug. 1 and Lyon at Stamford Bridge on Aug. 7, two days after contesting the Community Shield at Wembley against Manchester City.
Sarri will be without several of his key players as he prepares for his first season in England. N’Golo Kante is not expected to join up with the Chelsea squad until Aug.5 after helping France win the World Cup, one day after Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois are scheduled to return to Cobham following their exploits with Belgium.
Liam is ESPN FC’s Chelsea correspondent. Follow him on Twitter: @Liam_Twomey.
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