Chelsea go top, but Sarri says rivals are still better
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri insisted that his rivals are still better than his side despite going top of the English Premier League, thanks to a hat-trick from Belgian magician Eden Hazard on Saturday.
Chelsea thumped promoted Cardiff City 4-1 for their fifth win of the season, keeping their 100 per cent record and Sarri became only the fourth EPL coach - after Carlo Ancelotti, Craig Shakespeare and Pep Guardiola - to win their first five games.
But the former Napoli coach is looking for better things from his squad. "At the moment for me, Liverpool and Manchester City are better than us,"Sarri said. "I cannot change my mind after one match."
Chelsea are ahead of Liverpool on goal difference and two points in front of champions Manchester City.
"My target is to be the best team in England but not in one month. We can improve... We are not so solid as I want in the defensive phase," said the Italian, citing Cardiff's early goal from an unmarked Sol Bamba.
Sarri also praised Hazard, saying that when he arrived at Chelsea, he thought the Belgian was one of the best players in Europe.
Now he believes Hazard might even be the best in the continent, adding that there is still room for improvement.
The Italian believes that Hazard spends too much energy in the opponents' half, collecting the ball when he could be further upfield and scoring more goals. "He can score 30 or 35 goals this season," said Sarri. - REUTERS
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