Roberto Mancini believes Chelsea will be more dangerous opponents for Manchester City after sacking Roberto Di Matteo.
The Premier League champions visit the Champions League winners on Sunday in Chelsea's first game under interim manager Rafael Benitez.
And a wary Mancini, who believes Di Matteo was unlucky to lose his job, believes Chelsea could benefit from the bounce many a team with a new manager enjoys.
“Usually when one team changes a manager the game after for the opponents is very difficult,” he said. “For us, I think it is more difficult.”
Mancini expressed his sympathy for his fellow Italian Di Matteo, who was sacked in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a 3-0 defeat to Juventus.
“I am very sorry for Di Matteo because he won the Champions League three months ago or four months ago (actually six) but this is our life,” he added.
