Brazilians’ clash will be decisive

Jorginho, so I hope it will be the same here in the future.

“I expect Pep Guardiola’s team want to always be in control of the match, always in possession of the ball, and they’re able to do it so it’s a very difficult match.

“We are used to having the ball and possession so it will be very different. Maybe we have to defend lower.

“It wasn’t a choice in the last game [against City], it was a necessity that we sat deeper in the second half and this will be the same. We will try to play our football, but if they are able to play their football of course you have to stay lower.”

Chelsea became the first team to beat City in the Premier League this season when they triumphed 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in December.

Both sides went with a false nine that day, with Eden Hazard through the middle for Chelsea and Raheem Sterling, and later Riyad Mahrez, taking on the role for City.

Aguero missed that game through injury, but will no doubt start today. And while Sarri suggested he could use the tactic again, it is almost impossible to think he won’t start with new boy Higuain.

Sarri added: “I don’t know. At the moment the situation is different – we have another striker. We can make another decision but, I don’t know, maybe we will play with a false nine.”

Sarri’s men are still looking for their first away win of 2019.

But he said: “I don’t know if there’s a reason for it, I don’t think so.

“At the beginning of the season we won more away than at home. At the moment it’s not a statistic. We need to wait one month more.

“I want to see the away results over a long time, not for just three or four matches.”