From stifling Cristiano Ronaldo in training to complaints over smoking… where it all went wrong for Sarri at Juventus
JUVENTUS sacked Maurizio Sarri after their disastrous Champions League exit to Lyon – but the end was a long-time coming.
Despite star man Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice in the second leg, the Italians went out on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate score.
That saw the axe swung on former Chelsea boss Sarri, with club legend Andrea Pirlo immediately appointed as his replacement.
This is despite Sarri guiding Juve to the Serie A title – but seemingly the owners wanted more than just one piece of silverware.
Here, SunSport takes a look at some of the things that cost Sarri his Italian job.
Relationship with Ronaldo
Right from the start there were murmurings that Ronaldo was less-than-impressed that Sarri got the top job.
Then in November last year the striker shouted “what the f***?” at Sarri after he was substituted against AC Milan.
It was the second time he had been hauled off in a week by the gaffer.
Sarri later claimed he was carrying an injury, but the man himself swatted those rumours, insisting he was fine.
Things didn’t seem to be too rosy in training either – Sky Sports claiming “the man-management of Cristiano Ronaldo has been a spot of bother”.
The 35-year-old had a pretty miraculous season however, hitting 37 goals in all competitions.
Sarri the smoker
During his time at Chelsea the sight of Sarri with a nicotine stub in his mouth was all-too common.
The 61-year-old enjoyed a cigarette while managing in Italy the first time round but all that changed when he came over to the UK.
But according to Italian newspaper Corriere, the waft from his cigarettes caused issue with some of the Juve squad.
They claim Douglas Costa in particular got annoyed with the smell “coming into the locker room”.
Maybe his complaints led to the winger only making 23 Serie A appearances this season.
Captain Giorgio Chiellini even said that he would need to take a SHOWER after speaking with Sarri, such was the stench of smoke.
Not the Juve way
Sarri was described as “closed-off” by Chiellini which didn’t help his relationship with the Juve fans.
Just like at Chelsea, he was determined to go with his favoured tactics, unprepared to take on board any criticism.
It became known as “Sarri-ball”.
This saw Ronaldo fume when told to play as a lone frontman in the early days of Sarri’s tenure.
The club’s hierarchy also didn’t see Sarri as being the authoritative figure that Massimiliano Allegri was.
They were less-than-impressed by him murmuring his way through interviews and press conferences.
Champions League despair
Juventus were 1-0 down from their last-16 first leg against Lyon, but the club’s bosses will still have been confident of progression with a home leg to come.
Ronaldo, as he has done all season, predictably did his bit by scoring twice.
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But Manchester United flop Memphis Depay’s penalty early in the game proved crucial as Juve were dumped out on away goals.
The Serie A title is pretty much expected these days, but they were dumped out of the two Italian Cups by Lazio and Napoli respectively.
The Lyon defeat was the final nail in the coffin for Sarri.