Chelsea Manager Maurizio Sarri has named his Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp as the Premier League coach he feels closest to in terms of his approach, but he also had warm words for rivals Mourinho and Unai Emery.

Sarri’s Chelsea was involved in a pair of fascinating matches against Klopp’s Liverpool in September and Sarri shed light on a conversation with opposite number Klopp on the touchline.

The 59-year-old described the moment in an interview with Gazzetta Dello Sport, saying: “At one point I turned to him [Klopp] and saw that he was smiling.
“I approached and asked him why.

“He told me ‘I’m having a good time, you?’ ‘Me too,’ I replied.

“Here, when you live these situations, you realize that you have reached the top.”

“I feel closer to Klopp from a philosophical point of view,” said Sarri. “The exchange of words between us seems to me to be exemplary.

Sarri also praised Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho and Arsenal’s Unai Emery.

Chelsea enjoyed a 3-2 victory over Emery’s Arsenal back in August but was held to a 2-2 draw by Mourinho’s Manchester United in October, after which the Portuguese coach accepted an apology from a member of Sarri’s staff for his provocative goal celebrations.

“Mourinho is a man of extraordinary human qualities. He made an excellent impression on the day of the Stamford Bridge match when the incident involving one of my assistants occurred.
“On a professional level, there is little to say: he has won everything and everywhere.
“Emery is a scholar and an excellent professional. The offensive organization of his football is of the highest level.”