John Terry explains Chelsea return: My target is management

Chelsea take on Cardiff at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, with Sarri looking to become just the fourth manager to win his first five Premier League games after Carlo Ancelotti, Craig Shakespeare and Pep Guardiola.

The 37-year-old is reported to want to continue playing but Sarri said he would welcome Terry back at Stamford Bridge if he made a decision to pursue a coaching career.

"If there is a pitch and there are 11 players, I feel at home anywhere", Sarri said.

Chelsea FC have won all four of their opening Premier League games so far this season to leave them leading the way and level on points with early leaders Liverpool FC.

Derby County and Spartak Moscow have both reportedly dropped out of the race for Aston Villa target John Terry.

In his pre-match press conference, Sarri had stated that the league title might be out of grasp of his side this season and he reiterated those thoughts in the post-match presser as well. The most successful captain in the club's history departed in 2017 and reached the Championship play-off final with Villa.

"I don't know now the situation".

Sarri, as quoted by West London Sport, was led to believe that Abraham had no intentions of departing Stamford Bridge in the summer initially. "Not really, because tomorrow (today) is a very hard game, a very hard match", Sarri told press conference ahead of Chelsea's Premier League fixture with Cardiff.

Asked whether his side can challenge for the title, Sarri said champions Manchester City and Liverpool were favourites and that Chelsea needed to improve defensively. "For the moment, I'm really very happy to stay here". So I know that the matches after the break are very, very hard. I don't know (the chances) he told me other things, he told me he wants to play but I don't know, I have to speak to him again.

'I hope, in the future, I will be able to give him space, and give a space to Odoi and Loftus-Cheek.