Football

Maurizio Sarri admits three Chelsea players are ‘tired’ ahead of top-four battle


Maurizio Sarri was unhappy with the lack of rest his Chelsea squad had during the break (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri admits he did not enjoy the international break and says three of his players have returned feeling ‘tired’.

The Italian had a depleted squad to work with in the last ten days as the majority were competing in Euro 2020 qualifiers with their countries.

Chelsea are about to enter into a defining period of the season where they face Slavia Prague in the quarter-finals of the Europa League and are in a four-way battle for the remaining two spots in the Premier League’s top four.

The international break was an opportunity for some players to recharge their batteries but Sarri said he did not enjoy it and says Eden Hazard, N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard have returned ‘tired’ to training.

Hazard played every minute of Belgium’s two qualifiers (Picture: Getty)

Asked if the break was a good time of rest for his players, Sarri replied: ‘Not for me, we have players tired now.

‘Kante, Giroud, Hazard, played three matches in seven days and now we are not in October, they are more tired.

‘We need to recover. I had the whole squad only yesterday. I saw some were tired.’

Chelsea face Cardiff City in Wales on Saturday before hosting Brighton at Stamford Bridge in midweek.

Sarri is under increasing pressure to hand a first Premier League start to Callum Hudson-Odoi after the teenager made his England debut in a win against Czech Republic last Friday.

However, the Italian maintains that the winger must battle with the likes of Pedro and Willian for game time.

‘We have to play eight matches in 28 days, so he will start in two or three matches,’ said Sarri.

‘For every competition there is no difference, so I am really very confident with him. He has started a lot of matches.

‘Not in Premier League, but by chance, it is not a problem for him to start a Premier League match, he is ready. But I can only play with two wingers, we have Hazard, Pedro, Willian. Probably in the near future he will start in 75 or 80% of matches.’

MORE: Jurgen Klopp speaks out on Man Utd handing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer three-year contract





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.