Juventus Manager Maurizio Sarri Sacked After Champions League Defeat

Maurizio Sarri has reportedly been sacked as Juventus manager.

Multiple reports have indicated that the Old Lady have cut ties with the former Napoli boss, who joined the club as recently as a year ago after one season at Chelsea.

Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted on Saturday afternoon: “BREAKING – Juventus has sacked Maurizio Sarri. Official statement soon. They’ll go for a new manager.”

The Season For Juventus Has Been Troublesome

The news comes mere hours after Juventus were eliminated from the Champions League against Lyon, winning the second leg 2-1 in Turin, but crashing out on the away-goal rule.

Juve had suffered defeat during the first game in France, held almost six months ago, before a Memphis Depay penalty left them with a mountain to climb early on at the Allianz Stadium.

Star man Cristiano Ronaldo almost bailed out his coach with a spectacular two-goal return, but it was ultimately insufficient to provide the European salvation that the club so desperately desires.

Sarri had led Juventus to their ninth consecutive Serie A title, though their late-season form was cause for concern and they ultimately won just two of their remaining eight fixtures.

That left them with a points tally of 83, their lowest since the 2011/12 campaign, with Lazio eventually finishing just a single point behind them.

There was also disappointment in the cup with defeats in the Coppa Italia final on penalties against Napoli as well as the Suppercoppa Italia where Lazio ran out 3-1 victors.

Sarri Being Uncanny or Jovial?

Sarri himself seemed to question his own abilities, albeit in jovial fashion, while celebrating the Serie A triumph earlier this month, claiming that his team must be good to have won under him.

“If you guys won under me then you really must be good,” The Athletic reported him as saying.

Sadly for Sarri, though, his reign as Juventus manager appears to have terminated and the wait commences to see who will stroll through the cigarette-smoke to take his place.

Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as the early favourite with Sport Italia claiming that the Old Lady have ‘already contacted’ the former Tottenham manager to secure his signature.

Italian Newspaper’s Call

Italian newspapers have called for Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri to be given the boot following their surprise Champions League exit to Lyon.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as the Bianconeri took a 2-1 victory on the night, but Memphis Depay’s penalty proved crucial as Lyon advanced to the quarter finals on away goals.

And as Juventus’ season comes to a disappointing end, Italian newspapers have called for Sarri to be replaced at the helm of the club. 

Tuttosport ran with the headline ‘Sarri out,’ and saying on the front page: ‘Despite an extraordinary Ronaldo, Juve are out of the Champions League in the round of 16 against Lyon.

‘It’s a failure for Sarri, who was unable to give the team a convincing style of play.’

Meanwhile La Gazetta dello Sport reported that Sarri is ‘at risk’ of losing his job, and the shadows of potential replacements Simeone Inzaghi and Zinedine Zidane are hanging over him.

What Has Sarri Got To Say?

the Italian tactician railed at the suggestion that he could be sacked imminently, insisting Juventus’ directors will make their decision on his future based on the entire campaign.

Sarri also added that while he wasn’t personally affronted by the rumours of his demise, they were insulting towards the officials charged with deciding his fate.

“I don’t think directors of a top level club will make a decision based on one match,” Sarri said to Sky.

“They are going to evaluate the whole season. I find this kind of question offensive, but not towards me, it’s offensive towards the directors.

“I have a contract, I’ll respect it and I don’t expect anything.”

Juventus star Paulo Dybala came into the match with an injury cloud surrounding his left thigh and he only lasted 14 minutes after coming on as a substitute and again succumbing to the muscle strain.

Sarri admitted the decision to introduce Dybala with 20 minutes to play was a risk but insisted that he would also have been criticised if the Argentine playmaker wasn’t used.

“If I had come here without using Dybala, then I would’ve been asked why I hadn’t risked him,” Sarri said. “If not tonight, then when?