Maurizio Sarri says he used to seek out the rare television stations that would show Claudio Ranieri’s Chelsea back between 2000 and 2004, that of course featured his assistant Gianfranco Zola.

The current Stamford Bridge boss was then a lower-league coach making his way in the game, and revealed this week that he actually visited Ranieri at Fiorentina to watch how he worked in the late 90s, and returned the favour in the past few weeks - before the latter got the Fulham job. Sarri joked that would not give Ranieri any advantage in their derby this Sunday, because it would be offset by how he saw his training “20 years ago”.

The Chelsea boss described Ranieri as someone he “likes very much”, and paid great respect to his teams, not least the one that used to play at Stamford Bridge.

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“Yes, of course [I watched them],” Sarri said. Not like now, because 20 years ago it was more difficult [to watch the Premier League in Italy]. Now it's very easy, with television you can see every match of the Premier League in Italy. Twenty years ago you were able to see no more than one match a week.

“Usually a team of Claudio is really very solid. They usually defend very well, sometimes low, but very well. Usually he has a team very dangerous at counter-attacks, like in Leicester [City], but not only in Leicester.”

“I went to speak to him when he was the coach of Fiorentina, 20 years ago, maybe. I don't remember very well, but I don't think he can remember this meeting. Then, as I told you, I spoke with him for three days – I don't remember exactly - one month ago, or 45 days ago. He came to Cobham to see two, three trainings. He wanted to speak with me, with Gianfranco… dinner together in our restaurant in Cobham, the canteen.”

Claudio Ranieri with John Terry in 2003 (Getty)

“It was easier for me, because I was the coach of a little team near to Florence. Antella in the south part of Florence, very close to the training ground of Fiorentina.”

Sarri said he couldn’t understand why more top clubs didn’t offer Ranieri a job - “presidents are strange!” - and admitted he couldn’t go longer than two or three months out of work, as he would miss the adrenaline.

“I don't know [why he wasn’t in a job]. Usually the presidents are very strange.”