Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has made a surprising admission ahead of their Caraboa Cup clash against Liverpool.
The Blues manager said that his side aren’t up to the level of the Reds, and won’t be until next season at the earliest.
Liverpool play Chelsea in the League Cup on Wednesday night, before taking them on again in the Premier League just three days later.
But speaking after his side could only draw with West Ham on Sunday night, the Evening Standard reported that the Italian was envious of the time Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp had to work with his team.
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“We have to work then, maybe, in one year we will be at the same level as Liverpool,” Sarri explained.
Klopp’s team are the only side in the league who have made a perfect start to the 2018/2019 season. After seven wins from seven and a massive Champions League victory against Paris Saint Germain, thinks are looking good from a Red point of view.
Klopp also has the strength in depth to challenge for trophies in multiple competitions. When you have players of the ability of Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho waiting in the wings for a kick, then you know things are looking good.
But Chelsea can’t be underestimated. Despite only appointing Sarri in the summer, the players seem to have taken to his way of playing fairly quickly and as a result the London side are also unbeaten in the Premier League.
The Blues have only conceded four goals as well, and have matched Liverpool’s effort of 14 – so they are capable of causing problems for the Reds at both ends of the pitch.
Klopp did rest a few first team regulars for the 3-0 win against Southampton as Joel Matip and Shaqiri made their first starts of the season. Matip scored before being replaced by Joe Gomez, while James Milner came on at half time to add some defensive protection as Shaqiri made way.