Maurizio Sarri couldn’t have asked for a much smoother start to his tenure at Stamford Bridge.

The new Chelsea boss has adapted to English football with ease, switching his team from the defence-minded 5-2-3 employed by Antonio Conte to a more fluid and attacking 4-3-3.

His philosophy has helped the Blues surge to a three-way tie at the top of the Premier League table alongside Manchester City and Liverpool.

Only goal difference separates the trio, with City in first place, Chelsea second and the Reds third.

While he’s sure to face stiff competition from Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, Sarri has got his men playing the kind of football that, if sustained, will see them compete on all fronts this season.

The Blues have failed to win just twice since the Community Shield loss to City - a goalless stalemate away to West Ham followed by a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, both within the space of a week in late September.

Whatever objectives the Chelsea board are expecting him to achieve this season, Sarri is on course to secure at least one piece of silverware in his first year at the helm.

That would be no mean feat - even if it’s without the demands of Champions League football draining his squad.

Instead, the west Londoners are in the running to repeat their 2013 Europa League triumph with a view to returning to Europe’s elite competition in 2019.

So, Sarri need not be overly concerned with how the current edition of the Champions League plays out, but he’s still offered his pick for the trophy regardless.

Speaking to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, he said, per the Metro: “This season, there are two candidates to win the Champions League: Juve and Manchester City.

“I always thought Pep Guardiola’s side was mature enough for the final step on the European stage, but then we’ll have to see how the Spanish clubs are doing in March.

“Things change quickly in the Champions League.”

It’s intriguing that the 59-year-old doesn’t really fancy two of the usual suspects in Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Los Blancos are enduring a difficult season so far, but perhaps he’s noticed something about Barca that most of us haven’t.

Who do you think will win the Champions League this season? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.