Maurizio Sarri believes Jose Mourinho deserves more respect for the success he has achieved as a coach and feels Manchester United have the strongest squad in the Premier League.
United visit Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday looking to continue their recovery from a disastrous start to the season which saw Mourinho’s future called into question.
Reports of a fallout with Red Devils star Paul Pogba and a four-game winless streak put his job in danger before their comeback win over Newcastle United two weeks ago.
But the former Real Madrid coach should be trusted to turn the situation around given everything he has won, says Chelsea boss Sarri.
“We are talking about a coach who has won everything. He has won everywhere,” Sarri told reporters.
“I think I have to respect him. But I think that you all have to respect him as well.
“I think he is a very good coach, a very good manager and one of the best in the world. We are talking only about eight matches, they are doing well in the Champions League so they can improve in the Premier League, we are talking about two months.
“They are a very strong team. Player by player the best in the Premier League. I think Manchester City are better as a team at the moment, but player by player United are very strong.”
Mourinho had several clashes with Sarri’s predecessor at Chelsea, Antonio Conte, last season, as the pair traded verbal jibes in press conferences.
But Sarri believes emotion got the better of the two coaches and does not expect a similar relationship to develop between him and Mourinho.
“I don’t know the problem with Antonio. I think that, on the pitch sometimes, we are a little bit nervous. A little bit tense. You can say anything in that moment. But I think that it’s not important, but I think Conte respects Mourinho and vice versa.”