Gianfranco Zola has claimed that Maurizio Sarri would have enjoyed further success at Chelsea had he been provided with more time at Stamford Bridge.

Despite a season which saw Chelsea win the Europa League and achieve third place in the Premier League, both Sarri and club officials came to a mutual agreement regarding his exit after just 11 months.

However, Zola, who was Sarri's assistant at the West Londoners, feels that Chelsea could only have benefitted from the 60-year-old spending at least another season with the Blues.

The former playmaker told talkSPORT: "I think the best of Maurizio's work comes not in the first year but more from the second year onwards.

"Looking at the way he works, it takes a little bit of time to put in place what he wants to do and also he is very demanding on the players, but, after the players get used to it, they get better and better and the work becomes more effective.

"It's a pity, because I think it would have been good for the club if Maurizio stayed and it would have been good for Maurizio as well."

Sarri - now in charge of Juventus - has since been replaced by club legend Frank Lampard.