FILE - In this file photo taken on May 29, 2019, then Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri celebrates after winning the Europa League Final soccer match against Arsenal at the Olympic stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan. There will be some familiar new faces when the Italian league starts back up this weekend _ albeit in unfamiliar roles. Maurizio Sarri and Antonio Conte have returned to coach in Serie A in a shakeup of the top managerial roles rarely seen. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The Associated Press
TURIN, Italy (AP) - New Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri will not be on the bench for the club's first two Serie A matches, including against former team Napoli.
Sarri is recovering from pneumonia and underwent further tests on Thursday.
Juventus says they "showed a good clinical improvement" but the 60-year-old Sarri needs to be absent "to completely recover."
Sarri has still been going to Juve's training ground and watching the sessions on video link and coordinating with his staff.
Juventus kicks off its bid for a record-extending ninth straight Serie A title at Parma on Saturday, before hosting Napoli the following week.
Sarri spent three seasons at Napoli before moving to Chelsea in 2018.
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FILE - In this May 2, 2019 file photo, then Chelsea's coach Maurizio Sarri attends the Uefa Europa League, first leg semifinal soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Chelsea in the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany. There will be some familiar new faces when the Italian league starts back up this weekend _ albeit in unfamiliar roles. Maurizio Sarri and Antonio Conte have returned to coach in Serie A in a shakeup of the top managerial roles rarely seen. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, file)
The Associated Press