Maurizio Sarri has tipped Gonzalo Higuain to have a similar impact on the Premier League to Luis Suarez.
The Argentine forward joined Chelsea on loan in January, and has struggled adapting to English football so far having scored just three league goals.
The 31-year-old has enjoyed a prolific career during spells at the likes of Real Madrid, Napoli and Juventus, and Sarri is confident the forward can return to his past form.
The Chelsea manager used the example of former Liverpool forward Luis Suarez, who initially took time to settle in English football before enjoying a prolific spell in the Premier League, and tipped Higuain to have a similar impact to his fellow South American.
“I think that he has to improve. Physically, mentally. But I think also that he will be able to be very useful for us in the last part of the season,” Sarri told the press ahead of his sides clash with Chelsea on Monday.
“You know very well that it’s not easy in the first months to play in the Premier League, it was a problem also for (Luis) Suarez in the first season at Liverpool he only scored four goals.
But in the second season he scored 24 goals. So it’s not easy for a striker to play immediately well in the Premier League. I think he has time for improvement.”
