- Manchester City have a lot to live up to after their record-breaking season
- Chelsea fans to get a first taste of the Blues under new boss Maurizio Sarri
Pep Guardiola cannot wait to lock horns with new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri in today’s Community Shield, the traditional curtain raiser to the Premier League season.
The Manchester City boss twice outwitted Sarri when his side beat Napoli, then managed by Sarri, in the Champions League, and the Spaniard, who led City to a record-breaking league title last season, is excited about pitting his wits against the Italian once again.
“I am happy that (Sarri) is here in the Premier League,” Guardiola said. “I will learn a lot to see his team every weekend. I saw three games — he gets it, the team in a short time plays like he wants.
“I think it will be a good game, always Chelsea is a big rival. (Ex-Chelsea boss) Antonio (Conte) was, Maurizio will be too. The style of play will be perfect for English football.”
Guardiola admitted the match comes at a tricky time without his full complement of players. Most of City’s players who were on duty at the World Cup have now returned to training but Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne are still on their post-Russia breaks.
For Chelsea, Cesc Fabregas is a doubt with a knee injury. And France World Cup winners N’Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud, Belgium trio Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Michy Batshuayi are yet to return following the World Cup.
Sarri acknowledged the size of the task against the Premier League champions.
“The match for us is very difficult for one reason: They have worked all together for two years. We started two and a half weeks ago,” he said. ”I want to win, because it’s very important to have immediately a trophy.
“But in this moment of the season it’s very important, the performance.” AN