Sarri fully prepared for Chelsea's busy month ahead

The Blues boss says he differs from his opposing manager on Saturday and talks about how he struggles to see his role as a real job

Such is Maurizio Sarri's influence in modern football that 'Sarrismo' has entered Italy's famous Treccani Encyclopedia, a tribute built on the Italian's unwavering passion for the sport that has made him famous.

That fame was built on hard work with 12 and 13 hour working days throughout the international break, with Sarri catching up on his knowledge of English football and his upcoming Europa League opponents, as his side prepare to face the challenge of two games a week in September.

Many would have returned to their home country without any football in the diary for two weeks, but Sarri remained in London as he is keen to get one over his rivals in what he expects to be a testing month.

Chelsea prepare to face Cardiff City first on Saturday and Sarri's liberal approach has helped him win over his dressing room quickly.

His opposite number on Saturday will be a manager who is known for shouting at his players to instill fight in them, as Neil Warnock's management style appears to be the opposite of Sarri's. The Blues boss admits that he would rarely shout at his players, as he adds that his work load has barely dropped over the past fortnight.

“Oh, if it's necessary to gain points, yes. But I don't think so," Sarri told reporters. “No, I want only to see the team. I wanted only to study the team, the opponents and the match. Not other things [like Warnock's team-talks].

"If there is a pitch and there are 11 players, I feel at home anywhere. For me, my life is on the pitch with the players. For the moment, I'm really very happy to stay here. We have to play seven matches in 23 days, so I had to work.

"I have seen a lot of matches, of Cardiff and PAOK, West Ham and Liverpool, so I had to work. Sometimes here, sometimes at my home. Usually long days, yes. But, for me, it's a pleasure. I am not able to think about this as a job, like work. It's 12 or 13 hours, but for me it's not working.”

Sarri has now settled into his house in Surry with his wife and his dog Ciro, who he says is enjoying his "very big garden", as he looks relaxed ahead of what will undoubtedly be a more testing period than the one that saw him win his first four league games.

The start to his Chelsea career has been a bit rushed, coming into the club a week after pre-season had started and having to take the team on a long haul friendly trip to Australia. Sarri's time over the international break has allowed him to crunch numbers and he has fired a statistical warning to his player ahead of a match that they are expected to win comfortably.

“Not really, because tomorrow is a very difficult game, a very difficult match," Sarri said of Cardiff's visit to Stamford Bridge. "I remember in my first season in Naples, the average points per match during the season was 2.28, I think.

"But the average after the international break was only 1.31 or 1.32. So I know that the matches after the break are very, very difficult. Fortunately in the last season, the average was the same: 2.4 in the season, 2.45 after the break.

"Only because after the first season the players understood the difficulty of this kind of match. I'm trying to stress this number to my players. Just telling them this number. My experience in this situation.”

Away from the pitch, a report in Sport BILD said FIFA intend to limit the number of loanees at major clubs. Chelsea currently have 40 players on loan and the rules would see exemptions on under 21 homegrown talent, but then enforce a limit of eight players on loan.

This would lead to Chelsea needing to offload 16 players. Sarri is unfazed by the rumours and spoke about how he overlooks the progress of his players who are away on temporary moves.

“Usually I have a report every week, and then I have a report every month. But I don't know anything about the new rules of FIFA," Sarri continued. “I don't know. There is something similar in Italy. For example, I think Juventus have about 45 players (out on loan).

"I don't know if the major part of the loans are in the same country, but I think not. If you have young players on loan in other countries, I think it's normal. Maybe it's right [to complain or change the rules], but I don't know really. I have never thought about this problem. I don't know.”

Meanwhile, Sarri has reaffirmed his offer for John Terry to have an open offer for a role to be created for him in the coaching staff at Chelsea. He thinks that he can take a job within the youth teams, or straight into the first team, due to his legendary status at the club.

“It's up to him," Sarri said. "I think that, if John prefers to start with the young players, it's right to start with the young players. If John wants to work with my staff, it's right that he works with my staff.”