Sarri on Hazard’s future, Man City, Chelsea’s ‘mental problem’ and what makes Spurs ‘very dangerous’
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri spoke about a number of issues at a media conference ahead of the game against Tottenham. Here’s what the Italian had to say.
On the latest injury news
“No big problems. As usual after the national teams (play) there are some little problems – somebody with a little injury or a little bit tired. But fortunately at the moment we have not big problems.”
On Mateo Kovacic
“Kovacic is doing better. He had an ankle problem but yesterday he did all the training with the team and so I think that he will be able to play.”
On N’Golo Kante’s new contract
“N’Golo for us is not just an important player, he’s a determinate player for us, so I am really very happy with the new contract.
“I’m very pleased for him and it’s very important news I think. He is very professional on and off the pitch.”
On how Kante can still improve
“He’s very important for us in the defensive phase but he is improving in the offensive movements.
“Now he has to improve in the last 20 or 25 metres (of the pitch) I think. He can score more.”
On Eden Hazard’s future
“I don’t know the evolution of the deal for the new contract, but I think that we can do it. I hope so. I hope so.”
On Mauricio Pochettino and Spurs
“I think he has done a very good job. They play very good football. They are very dangerous in the offensive phase and with short counter-attacks.
“They are a technical team and in the matches they run a lot. From a physical point of view they are a strong team.
“They are competitive. They will fight for a Champions League position for sure.
“It’s a very difficult match because we have to be careful not to lose the ball in our half because they are very dangerous in these situations.”
On whether Spurs can challenge for the title
“I think at the moment in the Premier League there is a team above the others. This team is Manchester City.
“Then there is a very good team, Liverpool, and for sure Liverpool will be in the first four positions.
“Then there is four or five teams that will have to fight for the Champions League positions; Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, United and somebody else – usually in a season there is a surprise.”
On whether Chelsea can catch up with City
“At the moment, no. For me they are stronger than us at the moment. We have to work very hard just to try to recover the gap, but at the moment the gap is still there.
“We have to do it. We can recover. But I don’t think that in the first season we will be able to recover 30 points.”
On Chelsea starting recent games poorly
“I think it’s a mental problem. In the last three matches we had a problem with the approach of the match and not only (at the start) because we had some problems also in the beginning of the second half.
“So we have to careful and have to be focused on this problem. For sure it is not a physical problem, because in the last part of matches we have done a lot. It’s not a physical problem, it’s a mental problem.
“It’s not a tactical problem, because in the first 15 minutes in the last three matches the problem was that the opponents were more aggressive and determined than us.
“So it’s not a tactical problem and it’s not a physical problem. We have to approach the match in a different way.”
On the busy fixture programme ahead
“I think it was difficult from September to now also, because we played every three days. It wasn’t easy.
“December and January will be a very difficult period because we have to play every three days. Maybe the rotation of the players will be different.”
On managing the fitness of international players
“I think we have to programme individual training because it’s very difficult to have collective training in that situation.
“The problem is that there are some players – very important players – that have to play 70 to 75 matches in a season, so it is a big problem, especially for teams like us that have about 16 players in the national teams.
“It’s a big problem and I think we need to reorganise the football because it is very difficult for a player to be in a good condition for 75 matches and it’s very difficult for a team to rest players. It’s a big problem for modern football.”
