Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola stopped short of saying sorry, but did express concern for counterpart Maurizio Sarri after reflecting on their 6-0 destruction on Sunday.
Any doubts people may have had that City were ready to go all guns blazing in their title defence were swept aside in emphatic fashion as Sergio Aguero led from the front with a hat-trick, as Chelsea were handed their biggest league defeat since a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Nottingham Forest in April 1991.
City boss Guardiola empathises with his counterpart, pointing to his own occasional difficulties in implementing his ideas when he first arrived in the north-west three years ago.
The Spaniard, who had expressed surprise at how easily his side found it against Chelsea, said: “I know exactly what he wants to do. This kind of person or this type of game always helps to make our football better. He wants to try to do that.
FROSTY! Maurizio Sarri wasn’t for shaking Pep Guardiola’s hand after that defeat 😬😬 pic.twitter.com/Ozh1CAHf3a
— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) February 10, 2019
“People don’t understand how difficult the first year can be. Mine was difficult too. People expect with a new manager and buying players it comes immediately, but it needs time.”