Sarri predicts early problems for Chelsea

Maurizio Sarri expects a difficult start to life at Chelsea.

Antonio Conte won the 2016-17 Premier League title in his first season in charge, reviving Chelsea from a 10th-placed finish the previous campaign.

Conte won the 2018 FA Cup in his final game, in May, before being sacked despite starting pre-season in charge, hampering Sarri’s preparation.

The 59-year-old former Napoli boss has had just four weeks since his appointment to prepare for Saturday’s Premier League opener at Huddersfield, and has been without many of his leading players due to the World Cup.

“I hope that the second part of the season, for us, will be very good with a lot of points,” Sarri said.

“I expect in the first part of the season some problems. Maybe the performances in the first part of the season will not be in line with the potential of the squad. Maybe, in the first part.”

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is not renowned for his patience.

But Sarri says the Chelsea hierarchy acknowledge it has hardly been an ideal start, with the head coach unhappy about a pre-season schedule which included a trip to Australia.

“They know it very well,” Sarri said.