Sarri will pep

PEP GUARDIOLA is convinced Maurizio Sarri will turn Chelsea into title contenders after having a ‘meeting of minds’ dinner date with the Italian over the summer.

The Manchester City manager is a huge admirer of the work Sarri did at Napoli, who finished runners-up to Juventus in Serie A with 91 points after playing in an attacking style similar to Guardiola’s philosophy.

Former AC Milan and Italy manager Arrigo Sacchi arranged the meet-up of the two likeminded managers in June because Guardiola was intrigued by a coach who came into the professional game late after giving up his career as a banker.

Guardiola described City’s two Champions League group games against Napoli last season – they won them both, 2-1 at home and 4-2 away – as a litmus test of their progress but was hugely impressed by Sarri and is in no doubt he can make a similar impact at Stamford Bridge.

The two men go head to head again in the FA Community Shield at Wembley tomorrow, with Guardiola insisting he will be watching Chelsea closely this season to learn from Sarri, who he says has already imposed his style on the players he inherited from Antonio Conte.

He said: “Sacchi invited us out to dinner, we went out in Italy and Sacchi paid the meal! First of all I’m happy a manager like that [Sarri] is here. I will learn a lot and see him every weekend. Last season it was more complicated to see him.

“We are going to improve because of his ideas, I’ve seen three games Chelsea have played in pre-season and in a short time he is already playing like he wants. He needs more time but his ideas are already there. If his