Sarri: ‘Only positive start was with Chelsea, not good memories of Juventus’

Sarri: ‘Only positive start was with Chelsea, not good memories of Juventus’ Maurizio Sarri insists Atalanta shouldn’t be concerned, as ‘the only positive start in my career was at Chelsea,’ but admits he doesn’t have ‘good memories’ of his time at Juventus. There will be a reunion at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin on Sunday at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST). BERGAMO, ITALY – AUGUST 20: Atalanta BC coach Maurizio Sarri looks on during the UEFA Conference League 2026/27 Play Off Round First Leg match between Atalanta BC v Hapoel Tel Aviv at Gewiss Stadium on August 20, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Even though he won the Scudetto, it was an experience that lasted only one season in 2019/20 and not fondly recalled by either party. “It was a strange season with the stadiums practically empty from March onwards due to the pandemic, and perhaps that is one of the reasons why I don’t have good memories of that experience,” Sarri told Sky Sport Italia via Tuttomercatoweb. “In any case, I have no regrets.” Sarri starting new era with Atalanta BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Atalanta BC coach Maurizio Sarri reacts during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Parma Calcio at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on September 12, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) The coach is trying to implement a completely new playing style on Atalanta , who for a decade have only used a three-man defence, and there are a few teething problems. So far, they amassed three wins, one draw and two defeats between Serie A, the Coppa Italia and Conference League. “I’d say it is a similar experience to the one I had at Empoli. After nine rounds, we were bottom of the table, but we went on to feature in the promotion play-off final. BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Lazar Samardzic of Atalanta BC reacts during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Parma Calcio at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on September 12, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) “At Napoli, we had two or three points after four rounds. These are difficulties I have run into constantly over the course of my career. The only positive start I had was at Chelsea, but for the rest it was always difficult. “The reasons are obvious, the more the previous playing style was completely different to mine, the more difficulties I’d run into at the start. It is a year of construction, both the director of sport and the club have not set any specific targets for the short-term, they are talking about building for the long-term.” BERGAMO, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Maurizio Sarri, Head Coach of Atalanta looks on before the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on August 23, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Sarri insists that reducing it to a matter of a three or four-man defence doesn’t fully grasp the issue. “What really matters is the way of defending and attacking, how the team moves and thinks collectively. Systems have their importance, of course, but are not decisive.” Atalanta certainly were active over the summer, and quite a few of their transfers were completed towards the end of the session, including the arrival of Jonathan Rowe from Bologna. “I am yet to meet a single coach who is 100 per cent happy with how the club worked on the transfer market,” shrugged Sarri. “You’ve got to evaluate the whole group and not just the new arrivals. Some are ready to go, others need to be developed, but overall we brought in quality players, and that is what counts.”