Sarri: Rudiger set to miss Europa League clash

Antonio Rudiger is likely to miss Chelsea’s Europa League semi-final first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt and potentially the remaining games of the season after going off injured against Manchester United.

Rudiger, back in the side after a knee injury, was helped from the pitch just after the hour mark after seemingly suffering a recurrence of the problem.

Willian limped off in the final few minutes of the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford following a nasty challenge from United defender Marcos Rojo.

Blues boss Maurizio Sarri believes Willian might recover in time for Thursday’s game but the Italian was much more concerned about Rudiger.

“I think the most serious situation is Antonio Rudiger – his knee,” Sarri said.

“Willian at the moment is in trouble but I think it’s only a knock, so we can try to recover him.

“But for the next match in the Europa League probably Antonio will be out.”

Marcos Alonso’s equaliser took Chelsea a big step closer to securing a top-four finish.

The draw kept fourth-placed Chelsea three points clear of sixth-placed United with just two matches of the Premier League campaign left to play.

But Sarri warned: “The draw is not so much important for us, because with the 1-1 here we have to win the last two matches otherwise we are at risk with the goal difference.”

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Sarri has been under pressure at Chelsea