Sarri on Liverpool, rating West Ham, Pedro and Rudiger injuries, Hazard’s display and resting players
Chelsea’s 100% record under Maurzio Sarri ended as they drew 0-0 with West Ham on Sunday afternoon. Here’s what Blues boss Sarri had to say after the game at the London Stadium.
On Chelsea’s performance
“I don’t know where you take the statistics of the match but in my statistics we had seven opportunities against three.
“I knew that West Ham is a very good team. I don’t know why they lost their first four matches in the Premier League.
“They are really a very good team. Maybe now they have confidence that they won away against Everton.
“Maybe we could have done better in the last 25 minutes of the first half. Then I think we have played well in the second half generally but very well in the last 25 minutes.
“It’s impossible to win every match. One point is OK for today.”
On whether Eden Hazard performed in the way Sarri wanted
“Not in the first half, but better in the second. But today it was very difficult. They were cutting out every kind of pass to Giroud.
“Hazard did very well in the last 25 minutes but more on the right than the left. It was very difficult for the striker and the two wingers.”
On whether his players were affected by their Europa League trip
“I don’t know. I don’t think so in this period of the season, after only seven matches.
“It’s very difficult to play in the Europa League but I think it’s more difficult not now (it’s more difficult later in the season).
“I only said I don’t know why in England it is not possible, when you play a match away in the Europa League, to ask for a match in the Premier League on a Monday night, because in Italy that’s normal.
“But, if here I have to play 64 hours after a European match, it’s OK. It’s not a big problem I think in this period of the season, but maybe in April.”
On an injury picked up by Toni Rudiger
“I don’t know. I want to speak with the doctor but I think it’s nothing serious. I think maybe three or four days, nothing more.”
On Pedro, who missed out with a shoulder injury
“Pedro for us is very important because he is the best player we have with the movement without the ball. So in this moment of the season he is very important. We are trying to have him at the end of the week, but I don’t know.”
On how close Chelsea are to playing the football he wants
“We need to move the ball quicker I think. We need more movement without the ball.
“We are improving in the defensive phase. In the last two or three matches we defended very well but we have to improve, especially in this kind of match.”
On facing Liverpool in the Carabao Cup
“We have to play against a team who are very, very good. Against a team that have worked with the same coach for three or four years and they are a step forward of us at this moment.
“We have started to work all together 35 or 40 days ago – less 10 for the international breaks – so for us I think for us it is a bit early.
“We have to work, have to improve, and then I think maybe in one year we will be at the same level as Liverpool.”
On whether it will be better facing Liverpool, who are more open
“I don’t think so. It will be really a very difficult match. Maybe a spectacular match but for us a very difficult match.”
On whether he will make changes
“I want to see a picture of the situation during the training session. Now, really I don’t know.
“Maybe I will have to change 11 players, maybe only five, but in this moment I don’t know.”
