Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri believes his side is still a year away from contending with Manchester City (the defending Premier League champions) and Liverpool (the current league leaders) for the Premier League title.
Sarri, who wasn’t appointed as the replacement for Antonio Conte until July 14th, got a late start to building his side and had a shortened transfer window to work with. He had to start a little behind the curve in regards to shaping his team, and of course, new regimes mean systems that need to be implemented.
“We have started to work together 35, 40 days ago. Less if you include the international breaks. So for us it’s a bit early,” Sarri said. “We have to work, we need to improve, and maybe in one year we will be on that level.”
Currently, Liverpool are top of the table with 18 points. Manchester City and Chelsea are currently level on with points with 16, but the reigning champs are in second due to the +6 advantage they have on Chelsea in goal differential.
Sarri’s team dropped points for the first time in league play today, in a goalless draw with West Ham United. Sarri refused to blame the result on the quick turnaround time and short rest from the UEFA Europa League fixture however.
“It’s very difficult to play in the Europa League, but more difficult in March and April, not now,” Sarri said. “I said only that I don’t know why, in England, after an away match in the Europa League [we do not] play in the Premier League on the Monday night.
“In Italy, it’s possible. Here I have to play 64 hours after a Europa League match. In this period, it’s not a big problem. In April, maybe.”
Getting back to the original point, about what level they are at in relation to the Reds, we’ll get a chance to see another litmus test, of sorts, this week.
The two teams will commence their 2018-19 League Cup campaign with a third round clash on Wednesday night.
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