Maurizio Sarri has said that Chelsea will have to thread cautiously if they cannot find a way to impose their style of football on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
His words, “They were able to press us in our half [at Stamford Bridge],” Sarri said. “It wasn’t a choice, it was a necessity. I think on Sunday it will be the same. We will try to play our football but of course if they are able to play their football we have to stay low.
“In the first match we were lucky to score and then in the second half — especially in the first 20, 25 minutes — they gave us spaces so it was a little bit easier.
“I expect Guardiola’s team, they want always to be in control of the match, they want always ball possession. If they are able to do this it will be a difficult match. We are used to have the ball possession and on Sunday it will be very difficult, so maybe we have to defend lower.
“You know very well that the midfield of Manchester City is one of the best in the world. Not only Fernandinho but also [Kevin] De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, David Silva … technically I think they are the best midfield in Europe at the moment, so I think it will really be very difficult to be in control of the match.
“The match is there, more than in the strikers.”
“We have options. Maybe they have more options than us because they have worked on this for three seasons, but I remember that in Naples it wasn’t a big problem if there was a man on Jorginho. I hope it will be the same here.”
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