Sarri wary of ‘very dangerous’ Tottenham

Maurizio Sarri has warned that Chelsea cannot afford to give the ball away in their own half against Tottenham.

The Blues are unbeaten since Sarri took over as boss but have started recent matches poorly and have sometimes been guilty of losing possession when trying to bring the ball out from the back.

And Sarri has warned that mistake could prove particularly costly if it happens against Mauricio Pochettino’s side at Wembley.
Speaking at a press conference on the eve of the big derby, Sarri said he admired Pochettino as a manager and that he regarded Spurs as dangerous opponents.

“I think he has done a very good job. They play very good football,” said Sarri, who expects to have Mateo Kovacic available after injury.

“They are very dangerous in the offensive phase and with short counter-attacks.

“They are a technical team and in the matches they run a lot. From a physical point of view they are a strong team.

“They are competitive. They will fight for a Champions League position for sure.

“It’s a very difficult match because we have to be careful not to lose the ball in our half because they are very dangerous in these situations.”