I’M JUST WILD ABOUT SARRI
HE WILL BE PERFECT FOR PREMIER LEAGUE, SAYS HIS DINING PAL PEP
PEP GUARDIOLA is convinced Maurizio Sarri will turn Chelsea into title contenders after having a ‘meeting of minds’ with the Italian.
The Manchester City boss is a huge admirer of the work Sarri did at Napoli. They finished second to Juventus in Serie A with 91 points after playing in an attacking style similar to Guardiola’s philosophy. Former AC Milan and Italy boss Arrigo Sacchi arranged dinner with 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 entertaining Champions League group games against Napoli last season – they won them both, 2-1 at home and 4-2 away (right) – as a litmus test of their progress. But he 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.
He said: “Sacchi invited us out to dinner, we went out in Italy and Sacchi paid for the meal! First of all I’m happy a manager like Sarri is here.
“I will learn a lot. We are going to improve because of his ideas. I’ve seen three games Chelsea have played in preseason and in short time they are playing the way he wants.
“He needs more time, but I think he will be perfect for English football. Chelsea will be a big rival, they always are. Now, with Sarri, they will be tough this season.”
Guardiola’s dinner date with Sarri didn’t help him win the battle to sign long-term Napoli target Jorginho, who led City to believe he would sign but then decided to follow his manager to Stamford Bridge.
But Guardiola insists he is glad the Brazilian-born Italy midfielder didn’t move to the Etihad because his heart was clearly not in the move.
It was a second transfer slap in the face to City following their abortive pursuit of Alexis Sanchez in the January window when the Chilean made a late U-turn and decided to join Manchester United.
“Yes, we were close but in the end Jorginho decided to stay with Sarri,” he added. “I want players who want to come here. He didn’t want that. “Maybe it was a bit late to announce that, but if you don’t want to come, don’t come.
“The blow would be to come here when he prefers Chelsea.
“We were so close, we believed it was done, but at the last turn he decided on Chelsea, like Alexis with United.”