Sarri still writing off Chelsea's title chances despite City win

Maurizio Sarri has maintained it will be "impossible" to win the Premier League this season, despite Chelsea's 2-0 win over Manchester City.

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri remains insistent that his team cannot maintain a sustained title challenge this season due to his view that City is the continent's finest side.

Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Manchester City has not changed Maurizio Sarri's view that it will be "impossible" for his team to win the Premier League title this year.

The Blues handed Pep Guardiola's side its first loss in the division this season, with N'Golo Kante and David Luiz scoring either side of half-time at Stamford Bridge. Sarri's side is still seven points behind City after 16 games and eight behind new Premier League leader Liverpool.

And the Chelsea coach remains insistent that his team cannot maintain a sustained title challenge this season due to his view that City is the continent's finest side.

READ | Guardiola: 'We are here to be champions, not invincibles'

"As I said, always as you know, I think the gap is impossible to cover this kind of gap only in one season," Sarri told a news conference.

"One match - you can play one match, of course. Then in the competition of 10 months it's very difficult to cover the gap. I think they are, at the moment, the best team in Europe. 

"We won today. But we have to say we were a bit lucky in the first 25 minutes, because they could score. A little bit lucky in the first half and very good second half."

In his previous three meetings against Guardiola teams, Sarri had never been on the winning side.

As pleased as he was with the victory, Sarri wants his Chelsea side, which lost at Wolves in midweek, to carry its form into the rest of December, when it will face Brighton and Hove Albion, Leicester City, Watford and Crystal Palace in the league.

"I'm happy for the win because it's difficult to win against Guardiola's team," he added.

"I know very well they are a step ahead now. We have to work to cover the gap.

"We are not sure to be able to cover the gap. We have to try, of course."