Sarri admits pride at Chelsea’s unbeaten record but
Maurizio Sarri set a Premier League record as Chelsea extended their unbeaten start to the season to 12 games, but the Italian fears his side will have to reach another milestone to beat Manchester City and Liverpool to the title.
A combination of Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, the woodwork and poor finishing somehow kept Chelsea out and meant they lost ground in the title race.
The result ensured Sarri took Frank Clark’s record for the longest Premier League unbeaten run by a new manager, when he was at Nottingham Forest in 1994, but simply not losing may not be good enough this season.
The only other time Chelsea started a season unbeaten in their first 12 games, they went on to win the title under Jose Mourinho in 2014-15, but Sarri is not confident of a repeat.
City set a Premier League record by winning the title with 100 points last season and Sarri is already worried that they and Liverpool are on course to hit the century mark this time around.
“In this moment, the average of points for City and Liverpool is very high,” said Sarri. “I think about 100 points. So it’s very difficult to stay close to these teams.”
On his personal record, Sarri added: “I’m very proud about it. I know very well I have to say thank you to the club and thank you to my players. Finally, I have to say thank you to my staff. But, of course, I’d prefer three points today.”
Sarri was annoyed that his team could not make their second-half dominance count, and was also wound up by Everton manager Marco Silva.
During the second half, he raised his finger to his mouth to tell Silva to stop moaning at the officials, who had allowed Everton’s Bernard off the hook in the first half.