MAHREZ: I’M READY TO RULE
NOT DOWN OVER TOWN
MAURIZIO SARRI hit out at his side’s congested fixture list after Chelsea’s flying start ground to a halt at West Ham.
The Blues boss, whose men returned from their Europa League win over PAOK on Friday at 3pm, was lucky to grab a point after Andriy Yarmolenko’s late miss.
Sarri said: “I don’t know why, in England, after an away match in the Europa League, it’s not possible to play in the Premier League on Monday.
“In Italy, it’s possible. Here I have to play 64 hours after a Europa League match.”
Chelsea’s best chance came in the 65th minute when Lukasz Fabianski saved from substitute Alvaro Morata.
Sarri (above) said: “We need to move the ball quicker, I think. We need more movement without the ball.
“We are improving in the defensive phase. But we have to improve in the offensive phase, especially in this kind of game.”
The Italian insisted his men would not be under pressure in the EFL Cup-Premier League double-header with Liverpool over the next six days.
Sarri added: “Must win, in football, doesn’t exist.
“We have to play against a very good team, who have worked with the same coach for several years.
“They are a step forward of us at this moment. We have started to work all together 35/40 days ago and, 40 days ago less 10 for the international break, so for us it’s a bit early.
“In one year we will be at the same level as Liverpool.” RIYAD MAHREZ believes he is set to reap the rewards after adjusting to life at Manchester City.
Mahrez has had limited game-time since City broke their club transfer record in July by signing him from Leicester for £60million.
But the Algeria international, 27, claimed his first City goals on Saturday as a second-half brace helped the Premier League champions demolish Cardiff 5-0.
He said: “When you arrive at a big club you have to adapt to the style. The manager has helped me a lot and, in the last two weeks, I’ve felt a lot better.
“You can see that on the pitch. I never complain, I just work hard in training, and it’s paying off now.
“But I have to keep going – scoring is not a final thing.
“The style of play is different, but I stayed at Leicester for nearly five years and knew I would need time to adapt.”
The performance was an emphatic response to their shock midweek Champions League defeat to Lyon.
“It’s another game and atmosphere. Coming away to a place like Cardiff, you need to be on it from the beginning,” added Mahrez. GUNDOG EAT DOG: Pullout pages 10-11 DAVID WAGNER believes Huddersfield proved against Leicester they are close to turning a corner. The Town boss has yet to see his side win in six League matches this season after the 3-1 defeat at the King Power Stadium, which left them bottom of the table with just two points. But Wagner was happy with the Terriers’ performance and said: “I have no doubt we will collect points if we carry on playing as we are. “I am confident we can close the gap between us and other teams.” MADD MAX: Pullout page 9