Sarri on fans, Hudson-Odoi, Loftus-Cheek and why a transfer ban wouldn’t worry him



Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri spoke about a number of issues at a media conference ahead of the game against West Ham. Here’s some of what the Italian had to say.


On West Ham

“I think they are really a very dangerous team because this season they were not able to have consistency but they have high quality.

“So in a single match they can be very dangerous. It’s a difficult match. It’s a derby.”

On his team selection

“I have to consider that in this moment of the season we have played 51 matches. And in the last part of the season I want 20 players completely involved in our targets.”

On whether Callum Hudson-Odoi will play

“I don’t know. I have to decide who is going to play against West Ham and who is going to play against Slavia Prague.”

On whether Ruben Loftus-Cheek has improved

“Yes. A lot. Especially tactically. Now he is tactically a very good midfielder. At the beginning of the season he was a very offensive midfielder. Now he is complete I think.”

On whether Loftus-Cheek will keep his place

“Maybe, but we need to check every day the condition of the back. This morning he had only a recovery session because he needs time to recover after the match.

On whether Loftus-Cheek’s back issue is a cause for alarm

“No, I don’t think so. It’s a problem of course but I think our doctor is able to take control of the situation.”

On Gonzalo Higuain

“I think he has to improve. He has to improve physically and mentally.

“But I think he will be able to be a very useful for us in the last part of the season.

“It’s not easy in the first months to play in the Premier League. It was a problem also for Suarez at Liverpool – he scored only three goals but in the second season he scored 24 goals.

“It’s not easy for a striker, especially for a striker to play immediately well in the Premier League.

“He needs time to improve his physical condition and needs time to be suitable for the Premier League.

“But I believe he will be able to do it. In the meantime we are lucky because we have Giroud. We have to play every three days and so we need both.”

On whether Chelsea should buy Higuain

“Yes of course. But it depends on the club and it depends on Juventus. The situation is not clear at the moment.”

On the prospect of a transfer ban

“I am really very confident with my players. We have a lot of young players who are very good and are improving. If they improve we will be able to be a better team in the future.

“So I am not worried about the market. I am confident in my players.”

On whether Chelsea must win every game to finish in the top four

“No, because I think the last part of the season will be really difficult for every team. So we have only to fight and only to think about our matches. I think we have to fight until the last minutes of the last match but without looking at the results of the other matches.

“Of course we are not able to win every match but we try, home and away.

“We have some very difficult matches in the last part of the season, especially away, but we have only to do our best and play every match to win. Then we will see.”

On whether Chelsea need a new stadium like Tottenham, West Ham and Arsenal

“I don’t know. Probably yes, but I like Stamford Bridge very much because the atmosphere is very good. The people are very close to the pitch and I like it very much.”

On the fans against Brighton

“I was really very happy with the atmosphere in the last match at Stamford Bridge because our fans helped our players for 90 minutes.”