Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson insists he is not surprised by Maurizio Sarri’s brilliant start to Chelsea career.
Sarri was brought in to replace the outgoing Antonio Conte and so far the Italian has exceeded all the expectations. Chelsea are yet to taste a defeat this season and are currently in the third place in the Premier League.
On the back of a disappointing last season, Sarri’s appointment at the Stamford Bridge looked to have brought positivity at the club and has instilled a winning mentality among the squad.
The Blues are set to host their London rival Palace on Sunday and given their current form they are expected to shrug off the challenge of the Wilfried Zaha and Co with sheer ease.
Hodgson said, “He [Sarri] is pretty well known in Italy and there are football fans in other countries, it is a worldwide game.
“When I spent some time in Napoli a couple of years ago now, a lot of people had plenty to say about Maurizio Sarri, and all of it was positive.
“So I wasn’t surprised after the magnificent job he did at Napoli, that when Chelsea needed a new coach, they turned towards him.
“I am also full of admiration for the way he has been able to settle in so quickly, and to have such a good start with the team.
“I am also full of admiration for the way he has been able to settle in so quickly, and to have such a good start with the team.
I think the appointment of Gianfranco Zola alongside him was an extremely good appointment, because it is good when you come to a new country to have someone working alongside you who a, knows the football and the club extremely well, and b, s such a well respected figure. I was lucky enough to have that at Inter Milan and that has been replicated here.”
