Maurizio Sarri has warned the Chelsea hierarchy that they will have to wait two months for 'Sarri-ball' to be on show at Stamford Bridge.

Sarri was appointed as Chelsea's new coach after pre-season training had already got under way one month ago.

The 59-year-old has a much more entertaining style of play - nicknamed 'Sarri-ball' at former club Napoli - to that employed by predecessor Antonio Conte, but has had limited time to get his ideas across.

A number of his squad had extended time off after the World Cup so reported back for duty at various stages, while he has only been able to make a few changes to personnel in the transfer market.

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And Sarri said: “For sure, in this moment, we are not at the top of our potential. We did a preseason... what can I say... unusual, maybe. So now we are not at the top.

"I hope to be at the top of the potential of the squad in one or two months, but I don't know.

“I hope that the second part of the season, for us, will be very good with a lot of points. But I expect in the first part of the season some problems.

“What kind of problems? On the results. Maybe the performances in the first part of the season will not be in line with the potential of the squad. Maybe, in the first part.

“They (the board) know it. They know it very well.

“Will I change pre-season next year? Completely, I think. I arrived in the middle of July, so the problem was there. I have to accept it completely, but I think, for the future, it will be better to change it.

"I think that my perfect programme of pre-season is not completely in line with the programme of the club. So we have to arrive at a compromise."

Sarri spent the previous three seasons in charge of Napoli and while he didn't win a trophy, their performances were lavished with praise across Europe.

Manager of defending Premier League champions Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, is among his admirers.

It was at the Serie A club where the term 'Sarri-ball' began to be used but the Italian added: “I think you have to wait for a couple of months (to see Sarri-ball). You have to wait.

"It's (Sarri-ball) not my definition. In Naples we played at great speed, ball forward, ball back, with continuity, with great speed with the strikers. So it was fun for the supporters. And useful for the results, I think.

"We made the (points) record of the club in the first, in the second, in the third year - 91 points in the last season (but they finished behind Juventus).

"On 23 of the last 25 Serie A (seasons), 91 points was enough to win the title. So it was a bit unlucky, I think.

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"Can you play the same way in England? I don't know. It depends on the characteristics of the Premier League and of my players. I have to adapt myself on the characteristics of the players, and not vice versa.

"I am used to being under pressure. So I think it's not a problem. The only pressure that I feel is my pressure, is inside, more than outside. So the pressure was very strong, also, in Naples. So, for me, it's normal.”

One of his biggest concerns is Chelsea's lack of goals. They managed just three in pre-season, while last term they had the lowest amount in the top six.

With Michy Batshuayi sent on loan to Valencia, Chelsea have been left with strikers Alvaro Morata, Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham to find the net - the trio scored only 20 between them in the top flight in 2017-18.

"If we are able to play at another speed, maybe scoring will not be a problem for us," he said. "But at this moment, at this current speed, it may be a problem.

"Conte plays another football. The players in this moment need to think what to do too much, and so the ball is not moved at the right speed.”