Chelsea have got off to a great start in both the Premier League and Europa League this term. The Blues play West Ham on Sunday following a win away to PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday night. Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri expects the team’s great start to continue on the east side of London.
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri expects great start to continue at West Ham
Chelsea go into Sunday’s fixture three points behind league leaders Liverpool. The Blues can go back to the top of the Premier League but will need to better Liverpool’s goal difference to do so.
Sarri spoke to Chelsea’s website in the build-up to Sunday’s match and compared his winning start at Stamford Bridge with his time at Serie A’s Napoli.
“I am surprised because in Naples the beginning was very difficult, the first month,’ Sarri said.
“Here at the moment, I am very happy with the situation, with the players, with the club. But I know the Premier League is a very competitive competition so I know in the future I will have to face some difficulties.
“I have seen the five matches of West Ham in the Premier League, and I think they have been unlucky.
“They changed in the last match against Everton from 4-2-3-1 to 4-1-4-1 and they played very well. Their position in the table is not a realistic one.”
Chelsea manager reflects on win in Grece
Chelsea’s win away in Greece in midweek got their Europa League campaign off on the right foot. Chelsea manager Sarri reflected on the team’s win in the competition and the Premier League’s lack of accommodating teams when playing in Europe.
“In Italy, if you play in the Champions League you can ask to play the match before on the Friday or the Saturday depending on whether you’re playing on the Tuesday or the Wednesday,” Sarri explained.
“If you play in the Europa League away, not at home, away, you can ask to play on Monday night after. I think that’s right if you want to be competitive in Europe.
“In this moment it’s not a great problem because we have played only six or seven matches, but in two or three months maybe it could be a problem.
“Maybe I will need to rest many players, but I don’t know at the moment. I hope to qualify before the last match of the group, but maybe six or seven players need to rest in the future.”
Chelsea will play Hungary’s Videoton in the Europa League on matchday 2, October 4th.
