Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has defended Jose Mourinho, stating the Manchester United boss deserves respect.

Mourinho is under pressure as United currently lie eighth on the table and will face Sarri's league-leading Blues at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The Portuguese has been criticised heavily by pundits and United greats, but Sarri thinks the three-time Premier League winner needs to be shown more respect.

"We are talking about a coach that has won everything, everywhere, so I think you have to respect him. I think you all have to respect him," said Sarri.

Asked if he thought if Mourinho was receiving enough respect at the moment, Sarri added: "I think no at the moment, but I am not really sure because I don't want to read anything. For the coach you have positive and negative periods. In the negative I want to think only in my mind."

Mourinho had a few confrontations with Sarri's predecessor Antonio Conte, but the Italian believes both coaches respect each other.

He continued: "I think he is a very good coach, a very good manager and one of the best in the world. I don't know about the problem with Antonio, on the pitch you can be a little nervous and tense, you can say everything in that moment. I think Conte respects Mourinho and visa versa."