Juventus have officially appointed Andrea Pirlo as their new senior coach after sacking Maurizio Sarri, just a week after hiring him for the Under-23 squad.

He has signed a contract to June 2022.

“The decision was made on the conviction Pirlo has what it takes to lead, from his debut on the bench, an experienced squad full of talent to chase new success,” read a statement as cited by Football Italia.

Pirlo had been presented in a press conference by President Andrea Agnelli and director Fabio Paratici only a week ago, but as the new coach of the Under-23 side, which plays in Serie C – Italy’s third division.

That was going to be his first management role, but without even having a single match, he is already promoted to the main Juventus bench.

Sarri was sacked this afternoon, just hours after the Champions League exit at the Round of 16 to Olympique Lyonnais.

He had won their ninth consecutive Serie A title, but lost the Coppa Italia Final and the Italian Supercup.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Chelsea players have arrived at Allianz Arena in their bid to overturn a 3-0 deficit they conceded at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of the Champions League match.

Midfielders N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have been deemed fit to play in Germany.

Chelsea have a host of players missing, with Christian Pulisic and Cesar Azpilicueta the latest on the list after hamstring injuries in the FA Cup final. Billy GIlmour and Pedro are also injured, while Marcos Alonso and Jorginho are suspended.

Bayern Munich cannot play new signing Leroy Sane. Benjamin Pavard is injured at right-back, while Niklas Sule is fit again but may be eased in.

Photo Credit: Twitter @ChelseaFC

Juventus have sacked Maurizio Sarri after just one year at the helm, despite winning their ninth consecutive Serie A title.

The decision was made in a crisis meeting this afternoon between President Andrea Agnelli, directors and the coach.

Despite his dismissal, the tactician is still tied down to Juve until June 2022, earning a salary worth €5.5m per season net.

If the contract is not terminated by mutual consent early, then Juve must pay €11m net in Sarri’s wages, which comes to €20.3m gross.

His whole staff was also sacked as part of the latest revolution in Turin.

“Juventus Football Club announces that Maurizio Sarri has been relieved of his post as coach of the First Team,” read the statement as cited by Football Italia.

“The club would like to thank the coach for having written a new page in Juventus’ history with the victory of the ninth consecutive championship, the culmination of a personal journey that led him to climb all the divisions of Italian football.”

He won the first Italian trophy of his career, their ninth Serie A title in a row, but only one point ahead of Inter and with none of the attractive football that was expected.

His position was already shaky after losing the Italian Supercup to Lazio in December, then the Coppa Italia Final to Napoli in June.

Last night’s Champions League exit to Olympique Lyonnais proved the final straw, going out on away goals after a 1-0 first leg defeat and 2-1 second leg victory.

The 61-year-old leaves the Juve job after just 51 competitive matches, overseeing 34 victories, eight draws and nine defeats.

Germany legend Rudi Voller has told Chelsea to cough up £90million for Kai Havertz adding: There’s no Covid discount.

The coronavirus may have crippled the global football economy but Bayer Leverkusen chief Voller has warned the Blues they will not get their star man on the cheap.

Asked if Havertz would go for £90m or a much lower price, Voller told Gazzetta dello Sport: “It won’t be easy, but for an artist like him there is no Covid discount.

“No, but with his talent, it means he’s on the list of all the best clubs.

“We know of the interest of a couple of clubs, especially Chelsea, but for us, the situation is quite simple; he has a two-year contract, if anyone wants him on our terms, fine, otherwise he stays here another year and we are happy.”

Chelsea star Christian Pulisic is expected to miss the beginning of the next Premier League season as the American will need six weeks to beat the hamstring injury, according to Frank Lampard.

The winger was injured in Chelsea’s 2-1 FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal.

With the new Premier League campaign expected to start on September 12, Blues boss Lampard has admitted Pulisic will have an uphill struggle to be ready in time.

“With Christian Pulisic I think it’s going to be touch and go for the start of the season,” said Lampard.

“We’re probably looking around a six-week injury. So with six weeks, doing the maths, it gets very close to, and is probably into, the start of the new season.

“But we have to treat it right, the injury.”

Pulisic has racked up 11 goals and eight assists in his maiden campaign at Chelsea, and Lampard hailed the fast-improving forward for such an impactful start to the Stamford Bridge career.

“In the big scheme of things with Christian, when he reflects on his first season, the improvement levels coming here when you think of the goals and assists he’s had this year, it’s the best of his career,” said Lampard.

“And that’s his first year in the Premier League.

“From where he’s gone at the start to how he’s ended up and how he has played in restart, he should be very happy, and that’s down to his work.

“So we’ll get him fit, and get him ready. If he misses the first one or two games of the season, then we’ll have a firing Christian hopefully as hungry as he looked for the restart.”

Latest reports claim Arsenal are set to wrap up a second transfer after ‘agreeing personal terms’ with Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho.

The £145m former Liverpool star will arrive at The Emirates in a season-long loan deal – after a whistle-stop tour of their training ground.

It comes in the week, the Gunners agreed a £100,000-a-week deal to sign Chelsea star Willian.

Arsenal also have other transfer targets as they give boss Mikel Arteta cash to gatecrash the top four next season – just days after making 55 staff redundant.

The Catalan newspaper claims the North Londoners have fixed up a deal with Nou Camp chiefs.

Coutinho, linked with Chelsea, is not wanted at Barca, who tried to offload him to Bayern Munich, where he spent this season on loan, report The Sun.

The Brazilian’s agent has fixed up a deal with Arsenal, according to reports.

But Coutinho, 28, will not sign terms until he has completed the season with Munich.

The Germans are in a great position to win the Champions League this term, with a healthy 3-0 lead over Chelsea in the last 16, ahead of the second leg today.

According to The Catalan Coutinho visited the Gunners’ Colney Heath training complex and is keen to join this summer.

The FA Cup winners are also lining up a move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey.

Arsenal also want to wrap up a new contract for skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard explains his feeling when confronted with reports about Willian’s imminent departure from Stamford Bridge.

With Arsenal close to completing the signing of Willian from Chelsea on a three-year deal, Lampard said he would not be disappointed if the Brazilian – who is out of their Champions League tie at Bayern Munich on Saturday – were to move on.

“It actually doesn’t matter about disappointment from any party in this situation,” said Lampard. “I haven’t got an answer for you (if Willian will leave) first and foremost, because Willian remains our player at the moment.

“He’s injured for Saturday, and he was injured for the cup final. He would have given everything to play in those games. I know Willian well, I’ve seen him, he’s carried this injury a little bit from the latter part of the restart.

“In terms of being disappointed, certainly as a club I think we have done everything we can to explain to Willian, and mine and his relationship is really close. I would have no feeling of disappointment if he does move on.

“I’ve played with him, coached him, he’s a fantastic man and a fantastic player. I think he will feel like that about Chelsea, I’ll leave him to say his own words. But I don’t want anyone to try and find a negative attitude, because the club have acted very well in this as well.

“I don’t have the answer, if he moves on I personally would wish him well. And that’s kind of where we’re at now.”

And more from Lampard, who admits Willian’s potential departure to Arsenal would leave a hole in the Chelsea squad – but it is nothing they have not dealt with before.

“When a player’s out of contract they have the freedom and the right to go and play wherever they want, so we have to understand that,” said Lampard.

“If they stay in the league and it’s a player of Willian’s quality for instance, then they will go and contribute to that team. I think we have to accept that and move on, I’ve got no problems with that. That’s his right.

“I think he leaves a hole as a player that’s been here for seven seasons, and performed as part of some very successful teams.

“When I came in for this year and we had a very young group and young talents coming back after loans, we had some transitional elements to the whole group. And Willian was one you looked at and relied upon in terms of experience and quality, and he’s shown me that all year.

“But he has his own decisions to make. And we as a club will always want to move forward, no matter what.

“Eden Hazard left last year, but the club continues. You try and work in a forward direction, which I think we have in many ways. And that remains the same whatever player will leave the club.”

Real Madrid defence ace Raphael Varane has expressed regret at his errors that ensure the exit of his club from the Champions League following the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City.

Goals from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus secured a 4-2 aggregate victory for Pep Guardiola’s side, however, it was Varane who was at fault for both goals.

The French international lost possession to Jesus inside his own area on eight minutes, with the Brazilian squaring for Sterling to tap home.

That mistake dented Varane’s trademarke calmness, as his poor second half headed clearance allowed Jesus to race clear and fire the winner past Thibaut Courtois.

“I wanted to show my face. I got it wrong, this is on me, and we are out,” he told a post-match interview with El Chringuito.

“I am sorry for my teammates. I am sad that we are out. This has not happened many times in my career.

“Now we must show character, because it has been a hard night.”

Frank Lampard is optimistic that Chelsea can overturn their 3-0 deficit to Bayern Munich on Saturday night at Allianz Arena.

Chelsea’s hopes of achieving another miracle in Munich faded further after last weekend’s FA Cup final, in which Christian Pulisic, captain Cesar Azpilicueta and Pedro were injured.

Jorginho and Marcos Alonso are suspended, while Willian has an achilles problem and is expected to join Arsenal.

Only four times have sides overturned a deficit of three or more goals. None has done so after losing the first leg at home.

“We have to believe we could have the opportunity to do something special.” Lampard said.

“I believe we can. We have to, the players have to. It’s a huge task. We have to understand the situation we’re in.

“Will be extremely tough. Games have turned to big degrees. We have to believe we have the opportunity to do something special. We’ve got to play with confidence.

“Can it free us up against a really good team? That’s what I expect to see from the team. We have to tackle this in the right way.”