Martin Keown has slammed Maurizio Sarri’s antics which overshadowed Chelsea’s final training session ahead of tonight’s Europa League final against Arsenal.
The Italian appeared to be irked by an altercation between Gonzalo Higuain and David Luiz and threw his cap down in disgust before storming off the pitch in disgust.
It was later revealed that Sarri’s disgust was reserved for UEFA who insisted upon a 60-minute open session in front of the watching media, preventing Chelsea from rehearsing their set-piece routines in private.
Regardless of the real reason behind the 60-year-old’s hissy fit, Arsenal legend Keown thought the episode sent out the wrong message ahead of such a big match.
Tempers fraying in the Chelsea camp? ?
Higuain and Luiz come together in training and Maurizio Sarri is furious! pic.twitter.com/obSZ51KGGd
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 28, 2019
He said: ‘I think this is where he is very wrong the manager. Nobody really knew anything was wrong before he stormed off like that
‘He’s too emotional. I know he’s disappointed with his players he’s thinking why are they all not getting on together
‘He either loves or hates them and he has to be the middle ground as the manager.
Chelsea’s statement on Maurizio Sarri’s tantrum
‘Maurizio’s frustration displayed at the end of training was not related to any of his players, but was due to not being able to practice set-plays in the final 15 minutes of the hour-long training session as it remained open to the media.’
‘If he’s going to continue in that job it’s going to take him to an early grave. Those players will test you and something has gone on.
‘Maybe David Luiz has been a bit immature, Higuain may have run into him and maybe he’s not happy. These things happen all the time but the manager has added to it by the way he’s behaved.
‘The throwing of the cap and the over emotion it just leaves a bad taste in the mouth.’
