Maurizio Sarri to be unveiled as Chelsea head coach on Wednesday

Posted Wednesday, July 18, 2018 by Skysports.com

Maurizio Sarri to be unveiled as Chelsea head coach on Wednesday
Maurizio Sarri will meet the media for the first time as Chelsea manager

Maurizio Sarri is set to be unveiled as Chelsea head coach at his first press conference on Wednesday.

The 59-year-old was appointed Blues boss on Saturday, succeeding compatriot Antonio Conte, with the task of improving Chelsea's league position after the club finished outside the top four last season.

Conte won the Premier League in his first season in charge, which began with many believing Chelsea were in crisis.

Sarri finds himself coming into the most turbulent period at Chelsea since Roman Abramovich's takeover in 2003.

The Russian billionaire's visa dispute with the UK authorities has led to the indefinite postponement of plans to rebuild Stamford Bridge and the Blues finished 30 points adrift of champions Manchester City last term.

Sarri has a job to do convincing Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard to stay at Chelsea after they return from the World Cup

There are doubts over the futures of playmaker Eden Hazard, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Willian, Alvaro Morata and N'Golo Kante, among others. Captain Gary Cahill's future was also questioned on Tuesday.

Sarri may be seeking to use his powers of persuasion with Hazard and Courtois, in particular, to stick with Chelsea. But with their contracts winding down - Courtois' expires next summer, Hazard's in 2020 - Chelsea's may be forced to cash in.

There will be questions about incoming players, too. Jorginho followed Sarri from Napoli, but further reinforcements are likely.

Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain has been repeatedly linked with Chelsea, as has CSKA Moscow's Aleksandr Golovin, who is attracting interest from Monaco.

Maurizio Sarri to be unveiled as Chelsea head coach on Wednesday
Could Gonzalo Higuain been reunited with his former manager?