Jose Mourinho is tipping new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri to do well in his first season in the Premier League.

Although Mourinho has managed in Italy before, leading Inter Milan to an historic Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League treble in 2010, he never squared off against Sarri, who was managing in the Italian lower leagues.

READ MORE: 10 youngsters who could light up the Premier League this season

READ MORE: Chelsea Premier League 2018-19 season preview

For his part, Sarri said it would be ‘very exciting’ to come up against Mourinho, while managing Napoli.

And now Mourinho has addressed Sarri’s appointment for the first time, ahead of Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge in October.

“I don’t know him,” he told beIN SPORTS. “When I was in Italy from 2008-10, he was not in Serie A. I never met him or played against him. I just follow football and lately the good work he did with Napoli.

READ MORE: Chelsea devise a strategy to keep Eden Hazard

READ MORE: Courtois issues Chelsea threat as keeper seeks exit

“In England, all the good managers have the desire to come. It’s a crazy competition with a high level so I think every manager has the dream to come so he had the chance to come.

“He has a fantastic team, fantastic players and squad – I think he has conditions to do good work.”