Maurizio heeds his rival’s warning

MAURIZIO SARRI says Pep Guardiola has warned him how tough the Premier League can be for a foreign manager.

Guardiola took a year to settle at Manchester City before guiding his team to the title last season, finishing 18 points clear of their nearest rivals – and a daunting 30 ahead of the Chelsea team Sarri has inherited.

Sarri says that his team are two years behind City in their development, the Italian having been working with his squad for a little over two weeks.

But Guardiola is a huge fan of the 59-year-old former Napoli manager, citing Sarri’s former team, who they narrowly beat in the Champions League last season, as “maybe the best” he had faced in his whole career.

And Sarri (right) took advice from Guardiola before replacing Antonio Conte at Chelsea.

“Guardiola told me that here in England it is very difficult, the level is very high,” he said.

“He had some problems in his first season at City, but he said football is the same everywhere.

“Of course I wanted to come to England. Every coach wants to work here. The Premier League is the best league in the world. I am lucky to be here.”

And as for his City rival he said: “Pep is a friend, so I respect him as a person first of all, and as a coach I respect him for the work he has done at City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

“He is one of the best coaches in the world – maybe the best.

Gap

“This Community Shield is very difficult for us for that reason. They have been together for two years, and we started only two-and-a-half weeks ago.”

As for closing the gap on City this season, Sarri said: “It is very difficult. We can try to reduce the gap in the future with work – that is my job.’’

Sarri has also changed Chelsea’s formation and style of play from that used by Conte to a high-pressing, high-energy game in a 4-3-3 formation.

But he admitted it might take his players – seven of whom, including Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Michy Batshuayi will only report back from World Cup duty today – some time to adapt to his methods.

Sarri, without injured Cesc Fabregas tomorrow, said: “I don’t know how long it will take. It depends on the players.

“In Naples we had some difficulties for three or four matches, but after that no more.”