• Football

  • Premier League

Manchester City News

News

  • News
  • Teams
  • Video
  • Fixtures
  • Results
  • Tables
  • Stats
  • Squad
  • Transfers
  • Sky Bet
  • Super 6
More from Football
  • Football Home
  • Premier League

Pep Guardiola defends Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea tactics

Man City host Chelsea on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League

By Zinny Boswell

Last Updated: 09/02/19 10:22am

Pep Guardiola has defended Maurizio Sarri's tactics
Pep Guardiola has defended Maurizio Sarri's tactics

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Maurizio Sarri's tactics at Chelsea have been misunderstood.

Guardiola was full of praise for Sarri's work at Napoli when they played City in the group stages of last season's Champions League and backed him to revolutionise the English game at the start of the campaign.

Sarri appeared to settle quickly at Chelsea, avoiding defeat in his opening 12 games - a Premier League record - but has since come under criticism for his tactics, with the club 12 points off leaders City.

But Guardiola feels Sarri's team may have been judged unfairly.

1:01
Benjamin Mendy's latest Instagram story caused a great deal of confusion for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola at his Friday press conference
Benjamin Mendy's latest Instagram story caused a great deal of confusion for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola at his Friday press conference

"As a spectator and coach I try to figure out what the manager is trying to do," said Guardiola, ahead of Sunday's visit of Chelsea, live on Sky Sports.

"I see Chelsea and I can understand what they want to do. And after I see them, they do it. Maybe for other people they don't know exactly what they want to do. But they do it.

"And when you see the team, the players that they have, the bench - it is Chelsea my friend.

"The best strikers in the world are there, the midfielders there are the best in the world, good goalkeeper, experienced defenders. They know exactly what they want to do. Tomorrow is a final for us.

0:53
Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea cannot win the Premier League but are aiming for a top-four finish, before suggesting Manchester City are the best team in Europe
Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea cannot win the Premier League but are aiming for a top-four finish, before suggesting Manchester City are the best team in Europe

"The season for them is exceptional - final of the Carabao Cup, Europa League through and in the Premier League they are there, even if people don't believe it.

"They have a chance to be champions - nine points [behind] but a lot of games to play."

Play Super 6

Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.

Also See:

  • WATCH: Mendy Insta causes Pep confusion
  • Sarri: Man City still best in Europe
  • Aguero vs Higuain
  • PL essential stats

Trending

  • 1
    Pundits' Utd vs Liverpool combined XI
  • 2
    'Ban will impact Chelsea manager plan'
  • 3
    Nev: Ole gets job with win
  • 4
    Pep 'surprised' by Chelsea sack culture
  • 5
    Why do Man Utd use garlic on the pitch?
  • 6
    Chelsea to appeal FIFA transfer ban
  • 7
    Download Instructions
  • 8
    Merson's predictions
  • 9
    The rise of Rashford
  • 10
    Hamilton out to inflict pain on rivals
  • Video
  • Latest News
  • Home
  • Sports
    • Football
    • F1
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Rugby League
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Racing
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • Motorsport
    • Netball
    • GAA
    • WWE
    • eSports
    • More Sports
  • Score Centre
  • Video
  • TV
  • Sky Bet
  • Games
  • More
    • Transfer Centre
    • Live on Sky
    • Get Sky Sports
    • TV Shows
    • TV Guide
    • Competitions
    • Sky Go
    • Now TV
    • Pub Finder
    • Sportswomen
    • Sports Scholarships
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Contact Us
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Sky.com
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Sky Sports
    • Get Sky Sports
    • Sky Sports Apps
    • Sportinglife.com
    • TEAMtalk.com
    • Football365.com
    • Team Sky
  • Partners
    • Sky Bet
    • Fantasy Football
    • Super 6
    • Sky Sports Pub Finder
    • Living for Sport
    • Planet Rugby
    • Golf365
    • Planet F1
    • Cricket365
  • Sky Sports Channels
    • Sky Sports Main Event
    • Sky Sports Premier League
    • Sky Sports Football
    • Sky Sports Cricket
    • Sky Sports Golf
    • Sky Sports Racing
    • Sky Sports F1
    • Sky Sports Action
    • Sky Sports Arena
    • Sky Sports News
    • Sky Sports Mix
  • More Sky Sites
    • Sky.com
    • Sky News
    • Sky Corporate
    • Sky For Businesses
    • Now TV
    • Sky Communal TV
    • Sky Academy
    • Bigger Picture
    • Store Locator
    • Work for Sky
    • Advertise With Us
    • Sky TV Accessories
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Accessibility Information
  • Contact Us

©2019 Sky UK