Maurizio Sarri has acknowledged that he did not find it easy to build strong relationships with his Chelsea players last season.

While Sarri ended his one-year spell at Stamford Bridge by winning the Europa League, the Italian was often criticised for his style of play and communication with his squad.

Although Sarri, now at Juventus, has admitted that he had "conflicting relationships" with some of his players, he insists that everything was resolved before his departure.

The 61-year-old is quoted by Sky Sports News as saying: "The higher the level, the more difficult it is to build a relationship with the players. It's not the players who change, but the surroundings. You need more time, but you still manage.

"I had a conflicting relationship with the Chelsea locker room during the first five to six months, but then when I left after the Europa League final I cried and also a lot of the guys did."

Sarri recorded 39 wins and just 11 defeats from 63 matches as head coach of Chelsea.