Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has questioned Chelsea’s short-term managerial appointments.
Reports claim the Blues will sack manager Maurizio Sarri if the club lose to City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, live on talkSPORT.
Sarri has come under increasing pressure since losing 6-0 to Guardiola’s side in the Premier League earlier this month.
But Guardiola believes he benefited from the faith shown in him during a trophyless first season at the Etihad Stadium and has suggested Chelsea should back Sarri.
He said: “The situation is a little bit different. In my first year, the club never doubted me. It was never in the media that I’d be sacked if they lose this game or the other game. It never happened.
“Sometimes the situation is difficult and it needs time. The first season with Maurizio is the same. You need time but the people supported me here.
“The players knew who was the manager and everybody is in the right situation. After that you can win or lose but it is stable. That is the best way to build something for a long time, not just a short period.”
Guardiola responded to finishing third in his debut Premier League campaign by winning the title and claiming the Carabao Cup last year.
Sarri, who was appointed Chelsea boss on a three-year deal last summer, got off to a promising start with the Blues going 18 games unbeaten at the beginning of the season. But the Italian is under heavy pressure after losing three of his last four league games.
It is a familiar story with Chelsea having changed managers 12 times since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.
Guardiola said: “I was surprised that when (Antonio) Conte won the title and they lost one or two games at the beginning of the (next) season, people started to say he was going to be sacked.
“I said, ‘Wow, but two or three months ago they won the Premier League’.
“But my opinion of Sarri and his teams is always high. When we reviewed the game against us, maybe people don’t believe me but they did incredible things.”