Maurizio Sarri conducted football management’s ultimate sin (just ask Mark Hughes) after watching his Chelsea side get well and truly disembowelled by a rampant Man City side at the Etihad on Sunday.
After falling four goals behind inside the first 25 minutes, the Blues ultimately found themselves on the wrong end of a thoroughly embarrassing 6-0 pasting.
When the final whistle eventually put him out of his visible misery, Sarri just turned and started walking – completely ignoring the offer of a post-match handshake from Pep Guardiola.
Legend has it that Sarri is still walking and quite possibly won’t stop until he reaches the bottom of the ocean.
Patent bollocks, but the Italian coach attempted the following excuse during his post-match press conference:
I didn’t see [Guardiola] at the time but I will go to say hello to him later, as usual.
I wanted to go to the dressing room and in the moment I didn’t see him. I have no problem with him.
For what it’s worth, Guardiola seemed to accept Sarri’s version of events:
I have spoke with (Chelsea assistant) Gianfranco Zola. He (Sarri) didn’t see me.
I have an incredible relationship with him so no problem.
We can’t exactly blame Sarri for his thoughts being elsewhere, especially given that his days as Chelsea manager may well now be limited to single digits.