SM
Watford vs. Oxford Utd: 3 hrs 27 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
CL
Premier League | Gameweek 16
Dec 8, 2018 at 5.30pm UK
 
MC

2-0

Kante (45'), Luiz (78')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Maurizio Sarri admits it will be difficult for Chelsea to catch Manchester City

:Headline: Maurizio Sarri admits it will be difficult for Chelsea to catch Manchester City: ID:343748: from db_amp
Sarri's blues handed the reigning champions their first defeat of the season.

Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola played down the impact of the Blues' 2-0 win over the Premier League champions on the title race.

Goals from N'Golo Kante and David Luiz saw Chelsea inflict City's first loss of the season, ending a 21-match unbeaten run in the league, which saw Guardiola's men relinquish top spot in the table.

Sarri insisted afterwards that Chelsea are still behind City in the pecking order.

N'Golo Kante celebrates opening the scoring (Adam Davy/PA)

The Italian said: "I'm happy for the win because it's difficult to win against Guardiola's team. I know very well they are a step ahead now.

"In a competition of 10 months it's very difficult to cover the gap.

"I think they are at the moment the best team in Europe. We won today, but we have to say we were a bit lucky in the first 25 minutes, because they could score."

Guardiola, whose side sit one point behind Liverpool, was thrilled with the way his players played, despite the result and the first loss of the campaign.

Pep Guardiola could not inspire his side to a victory at Stamford Bridge (Adam Davy/PA)

The City boss said: "We're not here to be invincibles, or to be unbeaten, we're here to try to be champions.

"It doesn't matter. We want to have one point more than our opponents. Now, at the moment, Liverpool is better than us.

"When we win a lot of games I say, be calm. Now we are calm. The same.

"After all we have done last season everybody wants to beat us, came here and played with incredible personality to play here.

"We didn't defend, we stayed high, regained a lot of balls, we attacked, we created enough chances to score one or two in the first half, unfortunately it didn't happen. That is a good lesson.

Manchester City were held scoreless by Chelsea (Adam Davy/PA)

"The result is the result. They scored two goals, we didn't score.

"The way we played today is incredible. I'm so glad."

Sarri had criticised his players after two losses in the prior three league games – at Tottenham and Wolves – and said the win over City would count for little if his side do not back it up at Brighton next weekend.

The Blues boss, who earned a victory over Guardiola for the first time, said: "We have a team with some difficulties to be motivated.

"In this kind of match it's very easy to have great motivation, determination, the right level of aggression.

Chelsea battled to victory against the reigning champions (Adam Davy/PA)

"Then during a season you have to play small teams. In Brighton there will be three points on the pitch like today.

"We need to play with this level of determination, with the right aggression in the other matches. Otherwise it's useless."

Sarri praised his players' performance, including Luiz, Kante and Eden Hazard, who was deployed in a 'false nine' position despite prior comments on his frustration about the role.

Sarri added: "We had Eden for the first time in that position and I think in the first 20, 25 minutes we didn't work very well in the defensive movement in the opponents half.

"Fortunately we defended very well in our half. Then we started to press a little bit better and after the first goal the match changed.

"He had some problems at the beginning of the match, but I think he played really a very great second half.

"Maybe he deserved to score today. I think it's a very good option. We will play like today in the future for some matches of course."

amp_article__343748 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2018-12-09 17:13:26:
html db last update - 2018-12-09 17:13:26 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Maurizio Sarri

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .