Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has reiterated that he believes Manchester City and Liverpool are the Premier League’s stand-out teams, with the chasing pack playing for Champions League places.
The Blues are unbeaten since Sarri took over as boss, while Arsenal have been excellent under new manager Unai Emery.
But Sarri still has no doubt that defending champions City are on course to retain the title and that the battle is on to secure a spot in the top four.
He expects that battle to involve Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and perhaps another team.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Chelsea’s derby clash with Tottenham this weekend, the Italian said: “I think at the moment in the Premier League there is a team above the others. This team is Manchester City.
“Then there is a very good team, Liverpool, and for sure Liverpool will be in the first four positions.
“Then there is four or five teams that will have to fight for the Champions League positions; Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, United and somebody else – usually in a season there is a surprise.”
Sarri hopes Chelsea will eventually be on a par with Pep Guardiola’s City, but believes it will take time.
“For me they are stronger than us at the moment,” he said.
“We have to work very hard just to try to recover the gap, but at the moment the gap is still there.
“We have to do it. We can recover. But I don’t think that in the first season we will be able to recover 30 points.”