To arrive at Chelsea, a club who had just failed to qualify for the Champions League, and turn things around as quickly as he has done, it’s fair to say Maurizio Sarri deserves the praise coming his way.
Still unbeaten in the league, the Italian’s side have rejoined the Premier League’s elite, third behind Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Sitting down with Gazzetta dello Sport during the international break, the 59-year-old was asked about his main competition, as well as José Mourinho, whose Manchester United side are currently eighth.
He said: “Klopp is the one I feel the closest to from a philosophy point of you. The exchange of words between us is an example of that. Mourinho is a man of extraordinary human quality.
“He made a top impression on me on the day of the Stamford Bridge game when that incident with my assistant took place. On a professional level, there’s little to say: he’s won everything everywhere. Emery is a student of the game and an excellent professional. The attacking organisation of his football is of the highest level.”
Of those three, Sarri has only managed to beat the Arsenal manager, overcoming the Gunners 3-2 on the second day of the season, while drawing 1-1 against Klopp’s Liverpool and 2-2 in the last minute at Stamford Bridge against Mourinho’s Manchester United.
Yet to play either Tottenham or Manchester City (Community Shield aside), the Italian manager can look forward to both of those fixtures before December 8th, when he welcomes Pep Guardiola in London.
