Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri praises Manchester City ahead of eagerly-anticipated clash

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has hailed Manchester City’s midfield as ‘one of the best in the world’ ahead of his side’s trip to face the champions on Sunday afternoon.

The Blues were the first side to inflict a Premier League defeat on Pep Guardiola’s men this season, battling to a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge in December. 

Sarri was praised for outsmarting his opposite number that day as Chelsea swarmed all over their opponents.

Maurizio Sarri has hailed Manchester City’s midfield as ‘one of the best in the world’

Sunday’s clash is expected to be a similarly tight affair with the tactical showdown between Sarri and Guardiola likely to prove decisive once more.

‘You know very well that the midfield of Manchester City is one of the best in the world,’ said Sarri. 

‘Not only Fernandinho but also Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and David Silva. Technically, they are the best midfield in Europe.’

Sarri dismissed claims that nullifying Jorginho’s threat would stymie Chelsea altogether

While his decision to relinquish N’Golo Kante from his preferred deep-lying midfield role has been widely criticised, the former Napoli boss retains faith in Jorginho, who has missed just one league game this term.

And Sarri dismissed claims that nullifying Jorginho’s threat would stymie Chelsea altogether. 

‘They are able to play if you stop Fernandinho and we are also able to play if you stop Jorginho,’ he explained. 

‘We have options. So maybe they have more options than us.

‘I remember that in Naples it wasn’t a big problem if there was a man on Jorginho, so I hope it will be the same here.’