Sarri on his future, Kante, selecting more youngsters and how many new players Chelsea need
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri spoke about a number of issues at a new conference on the eve of the Europa League semi-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt. Here’s what the Italian had to say.
On Fifa rejecting Chelsea’s transfer-ban appeal
“I am not able to help you. I don’t know the situation. There will be a statement from the club.”
On the importance of Thursday’s game
“I think that we reached the target of the club (by qualifying for the Champions League), so we are really happy with this.
“Now we have to play in another competition. The target is to reach the final and the final target is to win the competition.
“Our feeling is that we deserve to win a trophy. So it’s a very important match.”
On how Chelsea will approach the second leg
“We have to play to win without managing the result – because that’s too dangerous.
“It’s not easy, because we have to play against a very dangerous team as we saw in the first leg. They are very dynamic, aggressive in the defensive phase and dangerous in the offensive phase. It’s a dangerous match.”
On whether Chelsea are favourites
“In the semi-final you have to play against a strong team and strong players. In a semi-final it is very difficult to be favourites. I don’t know. I know that we have to play a very difficult match. I am sure they will play at their best.”
On N’Golo Kante
“Kante has a problem with his hamstring. It’s not really very serious but he needs to rest for a couple of weeks.
“We can try to recover him only in the case of the final. We can try. I am not sure, but we can try.”
On the job he has done as Blues boss
“I think that in the my job the first target is not to win a trophy, the first target is to improve players.
“We are trying to do it and in my opinion some players improved, especially the young players; Callum, Loftus.
“Not only the young players, because in my opinion Barkley improved.
“I think we had a lot of problems but the work is going in the right direction I think.”
On whether plans are being made for next season
“We spoke one month ago about the pre-season. But we didn’t speak about the transfer market, also because we don’t know if we will be able to (because of the transfer ban).”
On the dominance of Manchester City and Liverpool
“As I say in every press conference, it is very difficult to cover the gap.
“We need to work, probably we need something from the market, so it’s not easy because the level of the top two is very, very high.
“Of course we have to work and have to try. In my opinion we can reduce the gap.”
On how many players Chelsea need
“I don’t believe you buy 10 players. We have to buy only one or two. Otherwise it’s very difficult to improve immediately.
“We are a very good team and so we need only one or two players – no more.”
On a transfer ban potentially meaning more youngsters play
“But I like to play with young players. For me it’s not a big problem.”
On Eden Hazard’s future
“You have to ask the club or the manager (agent) of Hazard. I don’t know what to answer.”
On whether Chelsea’s players out on loan might play next season
“Every month I have a report about the players on loan. We have 45 or 46 players on loan.
“Of course we need to consider who is ready. Two or three players are very interesting, but you need to consider the level.”
On whether he is willing to say who those players are
“At the moment, no.”
On reports linking him with Roma
“I want to stay here. I like English football very much – the atmosphere in the stadiums. So if I can I want to stay here. My target is to stay in English football.”
On the possibility of two all-English European finals
“The level of the Premier League is clear. You need to consider that it is not easy for an English team to arrive in May in a good physical condition.
“Tomorrow we will play match number 61. It’s not easy, not only physically but also mentally.
“The level is clear when you consider that we got to the final of the League Cup and we had to play against Tottenham, Liverpool and the final against Manchester City. So you have any idea about the level.”
