Mateo Kovacic slams ex-Chelsea boss Sarri’s ‘monotonous’ training regime and hails Lampard for inspiring him like Zidane
MATEO KOVACIC has ripped into Maurizio Sarri – but compared Frank Lampard to Zinedine Zidane. The Croatian midfielder slated the Italian’s “monotonous” training regime during his time with Chelsea last season. Kovacic played under the watchful eye of Sarri when he joined Chelsea on loan from Real Madrid last term. And the 25-year-old has claimed […]
MATEO KOVACIC has ripped into Maurizio Sarri – but compared Frank Lampard to Zinedine Zidane.
The Croatian midfielder slated the Italian’s “monotonous” training regime during his time with Chelsea last season.
Kovacic played under the watchful eye of Sarri when he joined Chelsea on loan from Real Madrid last term.
And the 25-year-old has claimed that training sessions have improved since the arrival of club legend Lampard.
Speaking to FourFourTwo, Kovacic said: “I came to Chelsea under Sarri, but I must say that Lampard is an exceptional manager.
“He has kept the character he had as a player in his personality as a coach, which has inspired all of us.
“He commits himself with everything he’s got.
“Training is always challenging and different from last season.
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“That’s probably the main difference between Lampard and Sarri, who made the concept of training quite monotonous.
“There were a lot of similar training sessions with a focus on tactical preparation.
“Zidane was similar to the way Frank Lampard is a coaching, and their approaches really suits.”
Kovacic failed to find the net and made just two assists in 51 appearances for the Blues last season.
But the Croatia international has already racked up two goals and three assists in 32 games in the 2019/20 campaign.
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Lampard has guided the Blues to fourth in the table ahead of the upcoming clash against Manchester United.
Sarri joined Italian giants Juventus when he left Chelsea last summer despite winning the Europa League.
Juventus are top of the Serie A table – but Sarri infuriated fans when he admitted he was happy his side lost to Napoli.