Maurizio Sarri believes Manchester United have the best squad in the Premier League and feels Jose Mourinho deserves more respect.
Chelsea take on Manchester United on Saturday afternoon with new manager Sarri very wary about what damage Mourinho’s side can do.
The Blues, who are unbeaten in all competitions this term, are seven points above Manchester United in the table.
Mourinho’s men have already lost three of their first eight League matches, but Sarri surprisingly ranks them above defending champions Manchester City.
He said: “I think they are a very strong team. Maybe, player by player, they are the best team in the Premier League.
“At the moment I think City are better as a team, but player by player, they are really very, very strong.”
There has been a lot of speculation since the summer that Mourinho is facing the sack at Old Trafford.
Sarri’s predecessor at Stamford Bridge, Antonio Conte, exchanged verbal barbs with Mourinho on many occasions last term.
Mourinho faces travelling to Chelsea with all of his available players after being hit with a number of injuries.
Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini were all ruled out of international duty with their countries and the United manager has revealed a number of others have returned to Carrington with problems.
“Some came back in good condition and the happiness of some good results,” Mourinho said. “Some came back with injuries, injuries that we were aware of when they happened and the national teams were correct in sending the boys back.
“We also had surprises with players that we had no idea that they were injured and they arrived with important injuries.
“The squad shape is that everybody available is selected.”