With Maurizio Sarri in charge, Chelsea will be Manchester City's biggest threat to the Premier League title, warns winger Leroy Sane.
The German feels the Blues, no longer under the stewardship of Antonio Conte, will show a major improvement on last season when they finished 30 points adrift of City.
Sane, who played a key role in the title win last season, believes despite a turbulent summer, Chelsea's attributes make them tougher than Manchester United or Liverpool for the upcoming campaign.
'Chelsea have brought in a really good coach,' Sane told reporters.
'The way Napoli played last season was really attractive. We really suffered against them.
'They might need some time to get used to his tactics but they could be a really tough team.'
City were in a league of their own last season, blowing teams away as Pep Guardiola instilled his philosophy on his impressionable squad.
But Arsenal, now under Unai Emery, as well as Liverpool and United, have all made changes in a bid to close the gap in the title race this season.
Liverpool broke the world transfer record for a goalkeeper, United secured the services of Brazilian midfielder Fred and Arsenal have shored up their defence.