Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri feels for Claudio Ranieri after his sacking by Fulham.

Sarri knows his fellow Italian coach well and indeed hosted Ranieri at Cobham back in August before he took the Fulham job.

"I am really very sorry," is Sarri's reaction to Ranieri losing his job, "but I know very well his character so I know very well we will see him very soon on another bench.

"I think it will hurt him a lot of course, it is normal, but he is very strong and I think in a few days he will be able to think to the next situation, to the future.

"He was unlucky because the situation was difficult [at Fulham] and it is now, but they have also opportunities for saving [themselves], so I think we have to play a difficult match, a derby, so we need another very good performance."