Maurizio Sarri feels Chelsea are behind Manchester City and Liverpool and backs Ross Barkley for England glory

Maurizio Sarri was a largely unknown entity, at least to the Premier League, on his arrival from Napoli in the summer, but eight games into the season and everybody now knows what he’s about. With him he brought a rich managerial history, over 30 years of experience and a renewed optimism at Chelsea as they entered their trough following Antonio Conte’s brief peak spell, such is the pattern of success at the club.

This season was potentially a free hit for the 59-year-old as he began his first in the Premier League not knowing what kind of team he would have to work with, such was the erratic nature of Chelsea’s summer plans. As it turned out Eden Hazard opted to stay, Thibaut Courtois’ departure was a relatively smooth affair and a suitable replacement was quickly secured, while the acquisition of Jorginho, who was an integral pawn in the deal to bring Sarri to Chelsea, should not be forgotten either.

Where Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool carried the early season expectation to challenge for the title, Chelsea have been able to get on with things under the radar and should not be ruled out as serious title contenders, not that Sarri will admit it.

Six wins and two draws this season, the latest being a 3-0 victory at Southampton, make Chelsea joint-leaders in the league as the domestic campaign pauses for the second international break, and Sarri can reflect on things coming together.

“I think it’s my football,” the Italian proudly declared after Sunday’s win. Hazard opened the scoring in the first half and Ross Barkley added a second, but it was Alavaro Morata’s third goal that had the manager most enthusiastic. There were 31 passes in the build-up before Morata clipped the ball over Alex McCarthy from close range, and it’s the kind of goal that the manager wants more of.

“We moved the ball very quick. I think one touch, maximum two touches and we arrived at the goal so easily. It was my favourite goal and I can see my football in this.”

Of course, it would be foolish for a manager of such ilk to be content by Chelsea’s start and risk standing still while his rivals whirl past, although Sarri added that Manchester City and Liverpool, who join Chelsea at the tip of the table, are a stretch too far for his side. “Manchester City and Liverpool are a step forward of us,” he said.

“The gap was 30 points City to Chelsea (last season) and we are trying to close the gap, but it’s very difficult to close such a gap in one season.

“We gave them (Southampton) two or three goal opportunities. We need to be able to be in control of the match. We can do better, better in the defensive phases and sometimes in the offensive phase. Today we did things wrong in two or three counter attacks, so we can do better.”

One player who is reaping the benefits of Sarri’s arrival more than most is previous Chelsea misfit Ross Barkley. With only a handful of appearances last season under Antonio Conte, his time at Chelsea was hampered before it could ever really get going as a result of injures and a talented midfield he struggled to lay a glove on.

But under Sarri, Barkley is looking more like the player Chelsea paid Everton £15m for in January. “I am really happy with him” said Sarri, who also predicted great things for the 24-year-old. “I think that potentially he is a great player because he has quality from a physical point of view and a technical point of view.

“I said to him from the first day he has great technical quality and physical quality, but you have to improve in a tactical point of view. Now he has improved.”

Barkley’s up-turn in form has seen him recalled to the England squad, his first selection under Garath Southgate, and Sarri believes he can be a key player for the Three Lions. “He will become a very important player in England and for the England national team.”

“Right now Sarri’s philosophy has helped me a lot,” Barkley recently said. ”I haven’t been coached much, but I am at an age where I understand football a lot more. I understand every aspect of the game.

“I had a strong pre-season, I have had a lot of minutes. I just have keep working hard. Sarri is still getting his philosophy across, but I feel his style suits me. He likes to press and to get the ball high up the pitch.”