LONDON • Maurizio Sarri has dismissed suggestions Chelsea are still in the title race, claiming this season would be a straight "fight between Liverpool and Manchester City".
While City manager Pep Guardiola has refused to rule the Blues out of contention, the Chelsea boss feels his fourth-placed team, who trail the front runners by 12 points, can only aim "for the top four this season, (and) no more".
At his pre-match press conference ahead of their Premier League clash with the league leaders at the Etihad tomorrow, he said: "Guardiola is in the third season in the Premier League. We have to try to reduce the gap.
"At the moment, City are the best team in Europe. We need to defend very well and to be very fast when we recover the ball.
"They are able to press really very well. If we do it, we can find spaces. But it's very difficult."
The Italian added his players were "lucky" to beat City in December when they ended the champions' 21-match unbeaten run with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
Playing Guardiola's men away remains one of the toughest tasks in English football and Sarri's preparations were not helped by Eden Hazard's midweek admission he had made a decision on his future, with his Chelsea contract expiring in June 2020 and amid repeated links with a move to Real Madrid.
Asked about the speculation, which has continued to swirl over a potential move to the European champions, the 60-year-old said he wanted the Belgium forward to be "happy" wherever his future lies.
He added: "I speak every day with Eden, but I speak with Eden about his position on the pitch.
"I will be really very happy with him if he wants to stay because in my opinion, he's the best in Europe.
"But it's up to him. I want to see him happy. And so, he has to decide."
With Liverpool holding a game in hand, Guardiola is well aware any slip-up at home could hand the initiative back to Jurgen Klopp's men and he urged his players to treat the game like a "final for us".
WANDERLUST
I didn't know it. What? I'll have to install Instagram on my account. He said he was going to Paris, but Hong Kong is far away. It will definitely not be okay if he is in Hong Kong.
PEP GUARDIOLA, responding to a reporter's query on left-back Benjamin Mendy's Instagram story tagging him in Hong Kong.
The 48-year-old told reporters: "We have to play in that way. I have a lot of respect (for Chelsea).
"Everyone must work and create something. When I saw Chelsea in pre-season in (the) Charity Shield, they were already there.
"The season from Chelsea has been exceptional, the Premier League is there, they (still) have a chance to be champions, a lot of games to play and the (League) cup is there as well.
"I see how they play and recognise what they want to do."
Guardiola also backed Argentina striker Sergio Aguero, who is just one hat-trick behind Alan Shearer's league record of 11 after his treble against Arsenal last weekend, to keep "appearing in the key moments" as "important games belong to big players".
He also revealed captain Vincent Kompany and fellow defender Benjamin Mendy would not be fit for the encounter before expressing his shock that the latter was supposedly in Hong Kong, having tagged himself at the city's airport on his Instagram account.
The Spaniard added: "I didn't know it. What? I'll have to install Instagram on my account.
"He said he was going to Paris, but Hong Kong is far away. It will definitely not be okay if he is in Hong Kong."
The Frenchman yesterday clarified on Twitter it was a joke, tweeting: "It was just joking with my Uber driver. I don't want no problems with Pep."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
SEE Reliance on Wizard can be Blues' hazard
MANCHESTER CITY V CHELSEA
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, tomorrow, 11.55pm
The Reds stay on top of the Premier League on 69 points, just ahead of Manchester City on 68 points. Stylish Liverpool thrash Watford to stay top. By. Former football superstars to play
Stylish Liverpool thrash Watford to stay top - The Bruneian
Qatar boss Felix Sanchez says his side must operate on a game-by-game basis after a 6-0 win over North Korea secured progression to the AFC Asian Cup last 16. Almoez Ali scored four as Qatar put in a rampant display on Sunday to move top of Group E, and will now take on Saudi Arabia to decide who claims pole position.
Hurt Cheetahs eye Stags' scalp - straitstimes.com
Mourinho Concedes Man Utd Incapable Of Living With Liverpool league group stage football match against Valencia on December 11, 2018. continued as United strained to keep a rampant
Mourinho concedes Man Utd incapable of living with Liverpool
Jun 08, 2019 · Giulia Gwinn gets Germany over against China at Women's World Cup. By The Associated Press. Sat., June 8, 2019. An own goal made it 3-0 and wrapped up scoring before the break.
Giulia Gwinn gets Germany off to winning start in Women's
Game of many returns for Gunners - theworldnews.net
However Pochettino went on to distance himself from the rumours, more or less re-affirming his commitment to Spurs by saying: "I have just signed a long contract with Tottenham and I am very happy here." There was rumour that Pochettino's contract with Spurs included a clause that would allow him to leave in the instance of an offer from
Pochettino happy at Spurs but would `have to listen´ to
Get a report of the Cardiff City vs. Everton 2018/2019 English Premier League football match. Sigurdsson double, Calvert-Lewin help Everton sink Cardiff. Cardiff 0-3 Everton: Sigurdsson
Sigurdsson double helps Everton sink Cardiff - Football News
Mohamed Salah completed a memorable day for Egyptian football by retaining his African Player of the Year award in Senegal Tuesday. The 26-year-old Liverpool star Mohamed Salah finished first with
Africa: Salah Retains African Award to Seal Great Day for
New kids strike for Azzurri. Spain wasteful but Enrique happy with chances created. Tite defends Brazil's poor display against Panama. Osaka blames complacency. Ferrer's 'special day' as he shocks
New York City with Kids - The 2019 Guide - Santorini Dave
Valencia. Football: Valencia chairman Murthy says King's Cup victory 'icing on the cake' to a fine season. straitstimes.com - DAVID LEE. SINGAPORE - Their title drought has ended after more than a decade, and in just five seasons after taking over in 2014, Peter Lim's Valencia are …
Kerber crashes to Russian teen at Roland Garros as Federer
0 comments:
Post a Comment