The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Chelsea boss Sarri rates Manchester United players best in league
Old Trafford squad is best in league, says Chelsea boss
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri reckons the players Jose Mourinho has at his disposal at Manchester United are the best in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s only defeat this season was in the Community Shield to Manchester City, who lead the Blues and Liverpool on goal difference at the top of the Premier League.
Mourinho, meanwhile, is embattled at United, who are eighth after three losses in the opening eight games.
“They are a very strong team. Maybe player by player they are the best team in the Premier League,” Sarri said.
“At the moment I think City are better like a team, but player by player they (United) are very, very strong.”
That may be interpreted as implied criticism of Mourinho, but Sarri was not about to emulate his predecessor, Antonio Conte, in igniting a public feud with the former Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss.
“We are talking about a coach who has won everything,” said Sarri, who has not won a trophy in management.
When asked whether three-time Premier League winner Mourinho was being shown enough respect, Sarri said: “I think, no, at the moment.”
The 59-year-old former Napoli boss suggested it was too early to comment on United’s season to date.
“We are talking about only eight matches. They are doing well in the Champions League, so they have the opportunity to improve in the Premier League.”
The Blues have beaten United all
three times at Stamford Bridge since Mourinho’s move to United after his December 2015 sacking by Chelsea and move to Old Trafford six months later.
United lost 4-0 on Mourinho’s first return as Conte’s side won the league in the Italian’s first season and claimed 1-0 wins in the FA Cup and league.
The Blues also beat United in May’s FA Cup final at Wembley in Conte’s last match, before Sarri’s appointment.
With Premier League top scorer Eden Hazard in sparkling form, United are expected to try to stop Chelsea playing.
But Sarri expects his team to keep improving to sustain their challenge for a top-four place, and maybe the title.
Sarri added: “In the future, we can improve and we need to improve. At the moment, we are giving too many opportunities to the opponents.”
Sarri has a settled first-choice line-up and Andreas Christensen is among those frustrated at being marginalised.
The Denmark defender’s father says Christensen will seek to leave if he does not feature more regularly by the end of the year, but Sarri gave the comments short shrift.
“The father? I am not interested,”
Sarri said.
“In the first part of the season David (Luiz) and Antonio (Rudiger) have played really very well, so it’s not easy to change.”
Mourinho is looking for his first success at Stamford Bridge as United boss but said: “For me it’s another game.
“Would I celebrate like crazy my team’s goal at Stamford Bridge or my team’s victory? I don’t think so. I think I would try always to control myself and to respect the stadium and supporters that were my supporters for many years.”
Ander Herrera is set to return after missing the last three matches, while Diogo Dalot, Marouane Fellaini, Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw all picked up minor injuries on international duty.
Having been publicly critical of Shaw on numerous occasions since arriving at the club, Mourinho has praised him this season, and he said: “Players are different and they react in different ways to the development process and Luke reacted in the best possible way.
“In his difficult moments, he was saying the same all the time, ‘I want to play for you, I want to play for United, I’m going to make it and I’m going to be the player you want me to be’. And he did it.
“Mentally he got stronger and of course the happiness of this season to play regularly and to feel the place was his place.”